A CREATIVE storytelling open-mic night is hoping to keep alive folklore in the Wee County when it hits a Tillicoultry pub this week.

From the historical and mythical to the modern and forward-thinking, all stories will be welcome and anyone is free to tell a tale or just simply listen in at the event in the Woolpack Pub on Friday, August 30, from 7.30pm.

The event is being put on by storytelling community group Creative Hillfoots, which is helping to promote the Hillfoots Tales project.

There is a wealth of local history and heritage in stories like the Ochil Witches, which were traditionally kept alive through word of mouth throughout the centuries.

While some have since been written down, most notably in The Ochil Fairy Tales by R Menzies Fergusson, there are many more tales out there as well as slightly or even majorly different versions.

Joanne Ross, a familiar name in local storytelling circles, will be one of the people looking to entertain the audience on the night and she is hoping people will be interested to hear the myths and legends.

She told the Advertiser: "I think it's important to keep these stories alive because if we don't they'll get lost.

"A lot were kept alive through the storytelling tradition, so they weren't written down."

Indeed, Jo is working with the Scottish Storytelling Centre to put some of these into writing, but prefers seating people in a circle for a method of delivery that is much more social and allows the audience to ask questions and engage in discussions afterwards.

She said: "Stories grow through telling and it's a good skill for people to have as well – we are all storytellers in everyday life."

The beauty in many of the local tales is that they are often linked to places people can still go and visit themselves, offering a closer connection and a reason to explore the area further.

Jo added: "It's really interesting because it's part of our history and it's recorded history too because the Ochil Witches, one of the tales I'll be telling, are mentioned in the Witchcraft Trials.

"The fairies are actually mentioned in church records, so it was something that was believed."

Organisers of the event will aim to fit in as many tales and discussions as possible into the two hours and it is hoped more nights will be arranged going forward.

Anyone who has a story but is unable to make the event can visit the Hillfoots Tales page on Facebook to get in touch.