EUROPE’S best stone stackers will return to Dunbar this spring in a bid to be crowned European champion.

Competitors will head to East Lothian in April for the second-ever European Stone Stacking Championship.

It follows in the footsteps of last year’s tournament, which attracted competitors from throughout Scotland and as far afield as Spain and France.

James Craig Page, who is behind the event, was pleased to confirm it would be returning to the town.

He said: “Stone stacking is both art and meditation, using free materials found on beaches and in parks.

“You can create temporary artistic monuments for passers-by to enjoy.

“The benefit you find in trying this activity is the moments of clarity when you are zoned in to searching for the next stone or the sweet spot of gravity when you know you’ve got the perfect balance.”

Categories within the competition range from most stones balanced one on top of the other, most artistic balance and a balance against the clock.

There are also competitions for youngsters, with this year’s championships taking place on April 21 – the birthday of John Muir, the world-famous conservationist who was the founding figure of the American national parks and was born in Dunbar – and April 22.

The overall winner will receive financial support for flights to the world championship in Texas.

As part of the Earth Day festival on April 21, the unique event, held in the town’s Lauderdale Park, will feature two stone balance competitions, art and craft stalls, balance workshops, demonstrations, live music and interactive fun for kids of all ages.

The following day, the event moves to the Eye Cave Beach, situated below Dunbar Sea Cadet hall.

Leading stone balance artists will carry out stone balance workshops featuring tutorials followed by two stone balancing competitions – Most Artistic and Most Stones Balanced Vertically – which will decide the overall winner of the competition, followed by a medal ceremony at 4pm.