The youngsters hope more skipping clubs will start

The area's ports contain many skippers in the fishing industry. Now a new breed of young skippers is making its mark.

Rope, gymnastic skill and good stamina are needed for Skip 2 The Beat, which is based in Portsoy and is thought to be Scotland's only such team.

Dozens of the club's youngsters, aged from just five to 14, have won national awards and hope more clubs will start.

The group meets once a week and has about 70 keen young members.

Olympic hope

They recently won several awards at a national skipping competition which they had entered for the first time.

The children said they enjoy keeping fit by skipping and learning new routines.

Coach Silvanna Matheson told BBC Scotland: "It's a fantastic exercise and is cheap.

"The clubs in England are saying 'Scotland is here'.

"We hope more clubs will open up. The more the better."

The ultimate hope is that skipping is eventually recognised as an Olympic sport due to the gymnastic skills that can be used.

Mrs Matheson said: "We could be there in the Olympics."