Tiree Music Festival cancelled due to 'extreme weather'

A music festival in the Inner Hebrides has been cancelled the day before events were due to begin as a result of "extreme weather".

Organisers of Tiree Music Festival said the decision had been "incredibly difficult" but necessary in order to get campers and staff back to safety.

Islanders have rallied to accommodate those stranded, with strong winds and rain forecast from Friday.

The BBC understands hundreds are on Tiree for the small-scale event.

It was due to run from Friday to Sunday and features acts such as Wet Wet Wet, Tide Lines and Skerryvore.

Organisers said they had secured all campers with accommodation for the night and had begun bussing people to homes and halls across the island.

They advised Friday's ferry to Oban was at 10:35 and foot passenger tickets for sailings across the weekend would be valid for this journey.

A spokesperson said: "Anyone who is able to make their own way to the ferry terminal tomorrow [Friday] morning should do so. For everyone else, we will provide transport for you.

"Vehicles will be boarded on a first come first served basis. Campervans are welcome to remain onsite or move to an alternative location on the island. Campervans wishing to leave Tiree should speak directly with CalMac.

"We must once again stress to everyone who was planning to come to Tiree, or who are on their way to us, to please turn around and make your way home."

Jim Gamble owns a house in Tiree and plans to accommodate stranded festival-goers for the night.

He was not attending the festival, but decided to open his home to help those who might be struggling after the cancellation.

"The message went out to the community, so we're just responding to that," he said.

"I can accommodate about four or five people, and transport comes into it with how many folk we can fit in the car.

"The whole community pulls together in situations like this.

"You'll see that, with all those cars waiting outside."

Garth Harrison, from Kenmore, and Ali Lamont, from Dunkeld, are attending the festival for the first time.

"We're gutted obviously," said Mr Harrison.

"We took a couple days off work so that's really not ideal. But you can't blame the organisers for cancelling it because you can see the tents and everything are falling down.

"We do wish that they could've looked at the forecast and told us and maybe given a bit of a warning about it ahead of everyone coming here and setting up.

"We've no idea where we're going tomorrow morning so it's not brilliant."

Ms Lamont added: "If you're coming all the way to Tiree, you take the risk."

Mhairi Marwick was due to teach at the Fèis Thiriodh and play with Celtic Worship at the festival.

She said: "I'm so gutted for the team who have put so much work and time and effort into this.

"It's a brilliant festival, so it's such a shame. It's one of these festivals on everyone's radar for the summer, so it's just devastating for the bands.

"It's really sad it's not happening this year.

"But I don't think there's many musicians who have arrived on the island and the boat's not coming tonight, so it might be quiet over the weekend."

She said an impromptu ceilidh had broken out in a nearby hall where revellers sheltered from the strong winds.

Organisers earlier said the safety of people on the site was their first priority and they did not take cancelling events lightly.

The Scottish folk music festival was scheduled to feature 26 acts as well as beach yoga, Gaelic song workshops, walking tours and magic shows.

A ceilidh which was set to welcome the festival on Thursday night has also been cancelled.

CalMac said its Thursday evening sailing to Tiree from Oban was unable to berth.

It said the Oban ferry terminal would remain open overnight tonight to accommodate those without accommodation.