Inverness' famous Red Hot Highland Fling will not take place this Hogmanay due to capacity issues and rising costs.

Highland Council cited limited access to the city's Bught Park and Northern Meeting Park amid ongoing improvement works and the consequent increased costings for infrastructure as reasons behind the decision.

The council lamented the "very difficult decision" to cancel this year's event given its importance as "a stalwart in the city events calendar".

The event is due to return in 2025.

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Cllr Glynis Sinclair, Provost of Inverness and Chair of the Events and Festivals Working Group, said: "We have to ensure that all our community events can be delivered successfully and noting the unique circumstances posed by the re-development of Northern Meeting Park we have decided that we will reserve our resources for an exciting return of the much loved Red Hot Highland Fling in 2025 when we will have all the benefits of a redeveloped Northern Meeting Park."

Don Johnstone, Chief Executive of Visit Inverness Loch Ness, said: "The Red Hot Highland Fling has been central to the Hogmanay celebrations in Inverness for a number of years, and there will doubtless be disappointment at this news. Given the circumstances it was the most responsible decision for the group to take.

"By making this decision early, it will hopefully provide local hospitality businesses the opportunity to further enhance their own offerings, which play an important part in the new year celebrations for both locals and visitors."

Provost Sinclair added: "Planning is already underway for 2025 with exciting developments to the Inverness Events Programme which we look forward to sharing about the return of the Red Hot Highland Fling on the 31 December 2025."