A world-renowned wildlife cameraman has been named as the new patron of a north-east aquarium and visitor centre.
Doug Allan, who has worked on major television series including Planet Earth, Life, Human Planet and Frozen Planet, has teamed up with the Friends of Macduff Marine Aquarium.
Mr Allan was most recently on the small screen as part of Britain’s Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney.
In November Mr Allan visited the Banffshire coast tourist attraction to give a talk about his life on the wild side.
He said: “It was in the waters of the Scottish east coast that I learned to dive over forty five years ago, so it was a real pleasure to be asked to be the centrepiece of an evening at Macduff aquarium back in November.
“Here’s an aquarium that can inspire non-divers, or future divers, about the very sea life that I found fascinating when I started my career.”
Mr Allan said the Aberdeenshire Council funded visitor centre and staff was successful in capturing the imagination of young people.
He added: “Catch them young and you have a conservationist for life.”
Last night Keith Newton, chairman of the Friends of Macduff Marine Aquarium, was enthusiastic about Mr Allan joining their ranks.
“Having Doug as our patron is fantastic and we are looking forward to working with him and having his support,” Mr Newton said.
“I think it is a real measure of the value and the standing of the Aquarium that someone as busy and knowledgeable as Doug is prepared to give us his time and energy.”