DESPITE the dreary weather, locals turned out to sample Wee County-grown produce and to experience gardening prowess.

People headed along to visit the Tillicoultry Allotment Association on Sunday, August 12, as part of the busy community week.

The three-hour open day in aid of Strathcarron Hospice boasted of a plant sale, tombola, bric-a-brac and raffle amongst other things.

There was the opportunity to drop in on 'Marieanne's soup shed' which offered dishes whipped up using produce from the allotment.

Also being sold on the day were bulbs, bags featuring hand-drawn pictures and mystery lucky-bags filled with seeds.

There was also a great selection to keep children entertained and activities included face-painting and a scavenger hunt.

The association has been holding an open day for the last four or five years and relishes the opportunity to welcome the public.

People tend to around 30 allotments and this time of year is a great time for harvesting and demonstrating what they are all about.

There is an open gate policy, which saw visitors free to roam and see what was going on at the different spots.

Audrey Biscotti, lead of the allotment sub-committee which organised the open day, was pleased with the response from visitors.

She gave thanks to the local community, council, businesses and all those who gave support during the event.

Audrey said: "We thought at the beginning of the day it was going to be awful because of the rain.

"The community amazingly supported us, we had 145 people throughout the day on one of the worst weather days on the entire summer so far.

"It was a major effort from the local community to come out and see us for which we are very happy. It's a lot of work to get it together."

The association raised £1400 for Strathcarron Hospice on the day, which it added to £400 raised for the same cause earlier in the year.