PLANS to hold a special commemoration event at the Battle of Prestonpans site in the summer have been given a £5,000 boost in funding from the Scottish Government.

The Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust received the award from the Scottish Clan Event Fund, which supports events which engage communities and encourage international visitors.

This year the trust hosts a re-enactment of the historic 1745 battle which saw Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites claim victory over Government forces.

And they are planning to dedicate two memorial tables, placed at the site with a special ceremony on the day.

The stone tables were sculpted by local artist Gardner Molloy, with one representing the members of the clans who fell in the battle and the other commemorating the Government soldiers who died. It is the first monument to the historic battle to be unveiled.

The commemoration will be preceded with a processions which it is hoped will be joined by representatives of all the clans who took part in the battle. The procession will pass streets named after those involved and residents living there are being invited to join in the parade.

There are also plans under way to invite people who are descendants of the clans to a series of gatherings ahead of the re-enactment day where they can learn more about their heritage.

The celebrations, which are planned for September 15, were one of 11 events to receive funding from the fund, which was announced by Fiona Hyslop MSP, Culture Secretary, last week.

Arran Johnston, from the trust, met Ms Hyslop for the announcement of the grant.

He said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Scottish Clan Event Fund to hold a really engaging commemorative event to mark the first-ever memorial to those who fell at the Battle of Prestonpans.

“With this support we’ll be able to put on an exciting event, taking the story of the clans and regiments of the ‘45 out into our community.”