Rock steady sea siren making waves once more

A monumental mermaid, removed from her rock after being damaged by storms, was today back among the waves off Scotland’s north-east coast.

And The Sunday Post was on hand to capture each stage of the delicate operation to lift and pin the 8ft, 800lb bronze Mermaid of the North into position off Balintore.

Now the body behind the tourist attraction, the Seaboard Memorial Hall, is confident Scotland’s maiden of the waves will outstrip the fame of her Danish counterpart, Hans Chris-tian Andersen’s Little Mermaid.

Spokeswoman Linda Durrand said: “We are delighted she is back on her rock where she belongs in time for our Fisher Folk Festival from June 27 to 29.”

The Balintore mermaid originally made from marine ply and resin was removed by Nairn firm Black Isle Bronze in November last year and left to dry out until May when she was recast in bronze.

This week, the firm was back in Balintore to re-pin her to her rock. The team bore a 10 inch deep hole into the granite rock from where stainless steel fixings secure the mermaid’s position against the worst the elements can throw at her.

The company’s founding director Farquhar Laing said: “It was a complete success. The operation took a whole day, but went without a hitch.”