Maunsie da Market Cross introduces shopping week

The Lerwick Shopping Week begins today (Monday) with the announcement of the new town centre mascot.

“Maunsie da Market Cross” was designed by local artist Stephen Gordon, and chosen from 28 entries to a competition which sought a character to represent Lerwick town centre.

Living Lerwick project manager Emma Miller said: “We were looking for something that visually represented the town centre and Stephen’s entry was just perfect – you can’t get anything more representative of the toon centre than the market cross.

“The standard of entries was excellent and we’d like to thank everyone who took the time to put their ideas on paper.”

As part of the shopping week activities the public can search for Maunsie in local shops by collecting a form from the VisitScotland office at the Market Cross.

There will also be a life-sized version of Maunsie visiting a number of shops for the public to meet him and take selfies for uploading to social media. His location will be announced each day on the Livng Lerwick Facebook page.

There are a range of competitions, workshops and events planned for this week. Full details are available on the website at www.livinglerwick.co.uk/events and printed programmes can be picked up in many local shops. There are lots of reductions in many shops and special shopping week discounts.

The week culminates in the Lerwick Lanes Fun Run on Sunday 12th August when many shops will also be open. Registration for the fun run is open now and anyone can take part by submitting their name and contact details at www.livinglerwick.co.uk/contact.

Registration on the day is open from 9.15am to 9.45am at the Fort Road car park ahead of the race start at 10am. Route map and full details can be found on the website.

Registration fees are £3 per adult and £1.50 per child, which will be donated to Disability Shetland. Fancy dress is actively encouraged in what organisers hope will be a fun day out for all the family in supporting a great local organisation.

Historic Environment Scotland is also hosting an open day at Fort Charlotte on Sunday, which is the finish point for the lanes race.