Study recommended of Belladrum and Black Isle Show traffic

Madness will headline this August's Belladrum music festival

A study looks set to be carried out in an effort to ease traffic congestion around two of the biggest events held in the Highlands.

The opening night of the Belladrum music festival near Beauly coincided with the main day of the Black Isle Show at nearby Muir of Ord last year.

It was the first time this had happened and resulted in long delays to enter the Belladrum site.

A traffic modelling study has been suggested ahead of this year's events.

Councillors have been asked to agree that Highland Council pays £3,000 towards the research.

Officers at the local authority said a similar type of study led to a successful traffic management plan for the Scottish Open Golf Championship at Castle Stuart in 2011.

Held in August, Belladrum attracts a crowd of between 15,000 and 20,000, while the Black Isle Show has up to 30,000 visitors over its two days.

The Black Isle Show is the biggest agricultural event staged in the Highlands.

Acts headlining this summer's Belladrum include Madness and The Darkness. The music festival moved to being held over three days instead of two for the first time last year.