North Berwick Highland Games promises to be “the biggest so far”, according to the event’s president.

The games kick off on Saturday, August 12 at Recreation Park, with entry from 9am.

There will be pipe bands from more than 20 countries competing, while there will also be Highland dancing and a variety of field events taking place.

Featuring 72 performances from the competing pipe bands, including Dunbar RBL and Preston Lodge, the games will offer the largest number of performances of any UK Highland games.

John Starr, president of the games, said: “This year is the 26th anniversary, and is set to be the biggest and best so far.

“North Berwick Highland Games is a true international event. This year we have 20 overseas pipe bands taking part.

“These bands are coming from as far as Malaysia, the United States, Canada and Australia. We even have a drummer coming from Brazil.

“We can get anywhere from between 7,000 and 10,000 visitors so, providing we get good weather, we should have a good turnout.”

The games will be the first organised by the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association (RSHGA) to introduce a women’s heavy- weight championships.

It is hoped the introduction of these championships will offer more opportunities for women to be involved in the games.

Mr Starr said: “We are delighted to be the first Highland games to introduce a women’s heavyweight championships.

“At North Berwick Highland Games we have had women competing for a while but this will be the first one recognised by the RSGHA.”

Traditionally, heavyweight championships consist of a number of challenging heavy lifting events that require both strength and skill.

From a shot put and hammer throw to the classic caber toss, the women’s and men’s heavyweight competitions are not for the faint of heart.

Ian Grieve, secretary at RSHGA, said: “We are trying to do what we can to broaden the range of who our games are accessible to.

“We want to include women as much as we can in our games and this is a big step forward in that.

“We have bounced around the idea of a Women’s Heavyweight Championships for a while and decided that this year we would start by hosting it at North Berwick Highland Games.”

In the south west corner of the ground, Highland dancers from the Scottish Official Highland Dancing Association (SOHDA) of various ages will display their skills in a wide range of dances, from the Strathspey to the Sailor’s Hornpipe.

Around the grounds there will be many craft and trade stalls, as well as children’s rides and various food and other stalls.

At the end of the afternoon, all the pipe bands parade into the arena to salute the chieftain of the day.

Dr Morgan Flynn, a well-known local GP who retired earlier this year, will be this year’s chieftain, with Dr Anne Mulrine his deputy.

After the presentation of trophies, the pipe bands will conclude the afternoon with the winning grade-one band playing them off the field.

To round off the day, a selection of East Lothian pipe bands will perform on Quality Street, along with Highland dancers, The Gospel Choir, North Berwick, and the Gislaved Drum Corps, from Sweden.

Tickets for the games cost £10 for adults, £5 for under 16s, with children under five going free. Family tickets are available.Tickets can be bought from tinyurl.com/8x3xjr53