Female-led HebCelt festival gets underway on Lewis

Thousands of festival-goers are in Stornoway for this year's HebCelt music festival which has a line-up of 70% female acts.

Pop icon Lulu is appearing alongside other performers like Nina Nesbitt, Josie Duncan, Isla Scott and Eddi Reader.

Organisers said the event had doubled the population of the Western Isles town, with more than 17,000 fans attending Lews Castle Green.

There has been criticism in recent years of male domination of the music industry and some festival line-ups.

A spokesperson for HebCelt said 200 volunteers were involved in running the festival with confirmed visitors from South Korea, China, USA and Australia.

Organisers said 70% of the music acts were female-led or featured female members.

The line-up also includes bands like Tide Lines, Skerryvore and Trail West.

HebCelt, which was first held in 1996, is expected to generate money for the local economy, with hotels, bed and breakfasts and campsites reportedly full.

The event is supported by organisations including Creative Scotland, Western Isles Council, NHS Western Isles, Lewis Wind Power and SSEN.

NHS Western Isles has launched a summer safety campaign, urging festival-goers to drink in moderation.

Colum Durkan, director of public health for NHS Western Isles, said: "One of the main concerns is dehydration.

"The temperatures are higher and we've had a lot of good weather recently.

"If people are drinking alcohol, rather than soft drinks or water, they are at greater risk."

HebCelt runs until Saturday night.