Baby is youngest music fan after mum goes into labour at festival

A newborn baby has become a music festival's youngest ever fan, after his mum went into labour at the Highland event.

Kate MacMillan's contractions began soon after arriving on the first day of Belladrum festival, near Beauly, last month.

Nurse Kate and partner Darren Redmond had taken their children Seamus, four, and Peggy, two, for three days of camping at the site.

Kate made it to hospital in Inverness, but returned just 18 hours later with new baby Callan, so the children could enjoy the weekend together.

She was able to use the family-friendly festival's quieter areas, including a tent set aside for baby feeding.

Kate, who was 38 weeks pregnant, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that Callan's arrival was not on her mind because her other children had come after their due dates.

Kate said: "I was feeling contractions and they were getting stronger. I said we needed to go to hospital.

"Going early with Callan wasn't on my radar."

Kate and Darren, who live near the Belladrum site, took the children to their grandparents and drove to Raigmore Hospital.

Kate said the hardest part of leaving the festival was telling Seamus and Peggy they had to go so soon after arriving.

She added: "I had the total mum guilt - I didn't want them to miss out on their weekend."

Kate and Callan returned for parts of the festival, but went home at night rather than camping with the rest of the family.

"Looking back it was all a bit of a blur," she said.

Partner Darren said the weekend had been "a whirlwind".

He added: "We were all a bit shell-shocked by Monday and it’s still hard to believe.

"But thanks to the amazing nature and spirit of the festival we were comfortable knowing we could come back to enjoy it."

Belladrum's organisers said Callan might take the award for the youngest ever attendee.

They said: "Welcome to the Bella family, little one and congratulations from all of us."

The festival is marketed as a family-friendly event and this summer also featured a number of weddings.