TWELVE drummers drumming have been replaced by 12 glorious goats in Haddington town centre.

Vincent Van Goat, Nanny State and chums can be found in premises throughout the town in the lead-up to Christmas.

The fibreglass works of art are the brainchild of Made in East Lothian, a social enterprise which supports artists, makers and the wider creative community in the county.

Fiona Maher and Fiona Lambert from the group, which is based on the town’s Hardgate, were delighted with the success of the scheme.

Fiona Maher, project co-ordinator, said: “We are excited to be launching the goat trail around Haddington, and are grateful to everyone who has participated in decorating the goats and to local businesses who have agreed to host them around the town centre.

“In this difficult year, the project seems to have engaged local people and we hope the trail will support local business by encouraging people to visit the High Street and shop local.”

Funding was secured through Haddington and Lammermuir Area Partnership, which put £4,650 to the project.

The community project was based on an idea used elsewhere but, as the goat features on the town coat of arms, it seemed appropriate to feature it in the Haddington trail.

Originally, the project was to be delivered in the spring of this year.

The goats were already ordered when the coronavirus pandemic arrived in March, and the project had to be put on hold until lockdown ended.

Made in East Lothian then invited proposals for decorating the goats.

The community supported the idea by submitting nearly 40 applications from which the final 12 designs were selected, with schools and other groups creating their own works of art.

Mhari and Made in East Lothian (Artie Hub Kid); Meadowpark (Rainbow Ribbon); Delilah and Scarlett Brady (Environmental Bob); Letham Mains Primary School (Vincent Van Goat); Ashley Kirby (Cyanogoat); Janet Meikle and Kids (Holistic Kid); Tynebank Resource Centre (Seasons Under The Sun (Billy)); Haddington Arts Festival (Livestock); Valerie Pellatt (Honey Hedgerow); Athelstaneford Primary School (Rainbow Goat); Rebecca Dover (Nanny State); and Hilary Wallace (Haddy Rugby Goat) make up the dozen successful designs, with a location map on Made in East Lothian’s Facebook page and to be printed soon.

At the end of the project, the goats will be auctioned off to fund the next community project planned by the local social enterprise.

Provost John McMillan lives in the town and described the works of art as “ingenious”.

The council’s spokesman for tourism and economic development said: “It’s marvellous.

“I have seen them in the window [at Made in East Lothian’s hub] and I have seen them in various places.

“I think they are very clever and it lifts people at this time of year.

“You’ve got the Egyptian exhibition in the John Gray Centre and there was a great turnout for the farmers’ market as well. It shows people want to come and see what is going on in the town centre.”