Bagpipers have expressed their fear over a new law which led to two US teenagers having their pipes seized by border control.
Friends Campbell Webster and Eryk Bean, both from New Hampshire, had their pipes seized while travelling between Canada and the US, just two days before they were due to fly to Scotland for the World Pipe Band Championships.
The competition will take place in Glasgow later this month.
Campbell’s £6,000 pipes – which were previously used by his father in his role as an official piper to the Queen – were confiscated by officials because they are made out of ivory.
New laws brought in earlier this year mean that owners of pipes containing ivory must get a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) certificate from the US Fish and Wildlife Service in order to transport their instruments across borders.
And pipers hoping to travel to Scotland for the championships will have to make an appointment with officials at a “designated” port and make a declaration on their customs form.
But pipers say the confusing rules, brought in at the end of June, are causing “significant concern” with many unsure how the new laws work.
Campbell, of Concord, New Hampshire, said he had a CITES permit, but when he got to the airport in Vermont was told he needed to amended to allow him to travel through smaller border crossings.
The 17-year-old added: “My friend and I both had our pipes seized by the US government Sunday night.
“There is no way to describe the feeling watching border patrol agents seizing your bagpipes right in front of you.”
The teenager has since managed to get his confiscated pipes back, thanks to an online campaign which attracted nearly 3,000 signatures – including Red Hot Chilli Pipers member Craig Munro, who offered to lend Campbell a set of pipes for the championships when he heard what had happened.
Mr Munro said: “It’s been a real scare for the bagpipe community.
“It’s really going to damage the antique market, because let’s be honest, what’s the point in owning an old set of pipes if you can’t take them anywhere.”
But Ian Embleton, chief executive of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, assured pipers the rules would not affect the upcoming championships.
He said: “This seems to more of a problem in America than here.
“It’s a problem for the individuals, but I don’t see it having an impact on the World Championships.”