A county couple had a once in a lifetime chance to meet his holiness the Dalai Lama during his brief tour of Scotland, and present him with a surprising gift.

Michael and Mary Turnbull of Orchard Court in Londniddry met the spiritual leader last Friday and presented him with a Tibetan thigh bone flute, which Mr Turnbull's grandfather had brought back to Britain after serving in the Younghusband expedition to Tibet.

Mary, 73, received a special blessing from the Dalai Lama.

See pictures and read the full story of the couple's special encounter in this week's Courier, out on Thursday.