But the people of Invergordon need not panic – Big Man Walking is a puppet controlled by 12 kilted puppeteers and a forklift, which controls his every movement.

The project, part of the Highland Homecoming programme, tours Scotland this autumn. A visit to Invergordon is planned for Tuesday, October 20, in conjunction with local group Off the Wall.

Sonny Rhind, treasurer of Off the Wall, told the Journal, "We are holding workshops for a fortnight prior to the event, which will involve local schools. Big Man Walking is a mythical figure who fell to earth 10,000 years ago. No one knows what he looks like so it will set the imaginations of the children working overtime.

"He will arrive in the town opposite the Port entrance in a cocoon state. When he wakes he will take a walk round the town.

"His route will be via Natal Gardens, Outram Street, the police station and along the High Street. He will have two or three stops to view a performance before returning to the starting point where he will be returned to his cocoon."

He added, "It should be a good fun day. The Big Man will be towering over the rooftops – the local kids will be awestruck by the whole thing."

The giant structure is created by the Puppet Lab and Puppet Animation, Scotland.

Simon Macintyre, the project's artistic director who runs the Edinburgh-based Puppet Lab, said, "The Big Man helped shape our landscape thousands of years ago before vanishing. He is coming back to see what earth is like in 2009. There are people called Watchers who have been preparing a welcome for him. In Bute they have organised a lantern parade, while in Kirkcaldy the local paper has arranged to print a special edition outlining all the major events that have happening over the years.

Preparation for The Big Man Walking Project.

"The welcome might take the shape of a pipe band, a choir, or a group of majorettes, who are willing to perform for him."

Mr Macintyre, who originally comes from Nairn, added, "We asked for people in the Highlands to get involved in the event, and the Off the Wall group from Invergordon were one of the first to contact us. They have been excellent to work with and we are looking forward to our visit there.

"The project is about respecting the community.

"We prefer to look at the positive things that are happening locally instead of being gloomy. There has been a huge amount of interest in the project all over the country."

Mr Macintyre also revealed the Big Man can walk at between one mile an hour and four miles per hour and he can even run when called on."

Big Man Walking visits Isle of Bute on September 26 and 27, Kirkcaldy, October 3, Buckie, October 17, Invergordon, October 20 and Inverclyde, November 6 and 7.

For more details visit www.bigmanwalking.com

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