A spectacular colour and light show at the heart of a Moray town will return next year after exceeding expectations.
Organisers had set a conservative target of 8,000 visitors for the inaugural Colours of Cluny event to break even.
However, ahead of last night’s show it was estimated that more than 12,000 people have marvelled at the range of hues in the woodland displays.
Graham Murdoch, chairman of organisers Forres Features, said creative director Kate Bonney had set herself a high bar to match next year.
He said: “It’s been unbelievable, it’s exceeded all our expectations. We thought if we got to 10,000 then that would give us a bit of profit to get a head-start for next year.
“It looks as though we’re going to do even better than that, which is just amazing. By year-three we’re looking at being self-sustaining instead of relying on grants and donations.
“I don’t know what Kate is going to do to top this for next year but I’m confident it’ll be just as spectacular.”
Mr Murdoch added that he believes the event’s setting has marked itself as unique from Pitlochry’s “Enchanted Forest”, which is put together by the same design team.
Despite the cold weather droves of visitors trekked up Cluny Hill again last night to take in the lights show at Nelson’s Tower for the final time.
Organisers skewered 16,000 marshmallows across the 10-date run for children to toast on a camp fire during a break from the steep incline.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead praised the organisation of lights show, which had an army of 80 volunteers, after visiting with his family.
He said: “This was a spectacular event that has firmly put Forres on the map with thousands of people visiting Colours of Cluny from Moray and beyond.
“This use of our natural environment and Nelson’s Tower was quite stunning and I pay tribute to the dozens of volunteers who helped out and especially those who had the vision and belief to make it happen.
“With the other successful events that have taken off in recent years the Forres community are showing imagination and determination to drive the town forward.”