ORGANISERS of the first ever Biggar Science Festival have celebrated its success, after many events sold out.

Over 1,000 people attended the festival, which ran between Thursday, October 5 to Sunday, October 8, comprised of around 30 events and activities at eight venues across the town.

The four-day science extravaganza kicked off with a Pub Quiz on Thursday evening, where the Quothquan Quartet showed that they were Biggar's brightest boffins.

On Saturday, a huge range of family-orientated science activities were on offer, including a hands on science event from the Heriot Watt University robot display team and the Moredun Institute's Disease Detective's both proved popular.

Also on offer were a range of electronics workshops; coding clubs plus a science fiction writing workshop. Tesla brought a selection of their electric vehicles to explain this new technology, and there was a chance to look at the equipment inside an ambulance.

Janet Moxley, who chairs the organising group said: "Although we knew that there was interest in a local science festival, the support has exceeded all our expectations. Many of our events sold out, with activities for children and families being particularly popular, although many older people also enjoyed the events.

"Earlier in the year, when we originally had the idea of running the Festival, we thought about running a couple of hours of family science activities as a pilot. However it quickly became apparent that we could do a lot more than this.

"There was a real buzz about the town throughout the weekend, and we have had very positive feedback from both the public and exhibitors. It has been lovely to see the excitement and so many smiling faces. We have tried to provide a mix of fun science activities, and more thought-provoking events.

"The Science Festival has been the result of a lot of hard work by a large number of people over a very short period of time. We are fortunate to have a very committed organising committee which has brought together people with a wide range of skills.

"We were also fortunate to receive grant funding from the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Infinis Glenkerie Windfarm Community Fund, as well as sponsorship and in-kind support the from the Institute of Physics and a number of local businesses. The venues have also been fantastic in helping us to accommodate the Festival.

"People are already asking when the next Science Festival will be. Although the organising group have not yet made a formal decision, I think it is very likely that Biggar Science Festival will be back next year."