TRANENT Children’s Gala Day might have been cancelled but the best dressed house competition went ahead, brightening up the town and bringing a smile to children’s faces.

The competition was also given a touch of mystery this year, as the entrants were judged by an independent and anonymous group, rather than the gala committee.

Derek Ross, gala committee chairman, said: “We weren’t doing the judging because there wasn’t a gala court this year.

“It was an independent party that approached us and asked if they could take the judging on, and they judged it anonymously.”

The judges, who the Courier can reveal were Radio Saltire’s Davie Martin and former gala committee member Colin McGinn, looked at online pictures of the houses entered into the competition, and also separately visited the homes to view them.

Mr Martin said: “The committee couldn’t judge the competition so we approached them and said we would be happy to do it anonymously.

“Colin and I looked at the homes separately, marked them out of 20, then emailed the results to each other -- we hit send at the same time so we couldn’t change our mind!

“The circus theme won by just one point.”

And winning brothers Hayden and Cole McLay were unaware that their circus-themed house on The Heugh had won, until mum Michelle saw the announcement on Facebook.

Mrs McLay said: “My boys were going to be in the gala: Hayden, 11, was going to be a herald and Cole, 8, was chosen to be a page boy.”

Gala court members traditionally dress their homes, with parents and carers getting stuck in and assisting the children.

This year, some six houses were dressed up, with themes including a safari, a sweetie shop and movies Frozen and Trolls, before participants were initially told the competition would be cancelled.

Mrs McLay said: “We were told the best dressed house wasn’t going ahead but we didn’t want to disappoint the boys so we decided to go ahead and dress our house anyway. We did a carnival/circus theme; we had a bouncy castle, hook-the-duck, tin can alley, popcorn and candy floss machines, hot dogs…”

“And then we were informed there would be independent judges coming out to judge the house.”

She added: “We only knew we won because it was posted on the gala Facebook page.”

The Facebook post by Mr Ross said: “I have been informed by the independent judges that it was a very close call but the winner of the best decorated house is The Circus: Hayden McLay (herald) and Cole McLay (pageboy).

“Well done to all that took part in these difficult times. All the houses looked brilliant.”

Mr Martin and Mr McGinn will donate a Luca’s voucher for £50 to the boys.