SPRING-CLEAN time has come early at Merkinch Community Centre, thanks to ICI.

Billy Nelson has been working away with a big bucket of magnolia paint (from one of the paint giant's schemes) to spruce up the area commonly referred to as the “disco room”. This room is regularly used for meetings as well as parties, and during the day is also frequented by visitors from the Corbett Centre and members of the Friendship Club. It must be catching: also spotted one recent sunny Sunday afternoon down at the pier with a bucket of white paint and a rather small brush was Dell McClurg who was smartening up the dolphin centre.

Though tourists are somewhat thin on the ground this year, there are always quite a few locals enjoying the view, the waterside walk and the car park – a great place to view the best panorama in the Highlands, follow the activities of the Sea Cadets and other marine folk, and read the Sunday papers!

Still on the subject of paint jobs: the roads department has even been renewing the yellow lines across the Black Bridge and on Grant Street… what's more some formerly double yellow lines now appear to be single.