AN idea dreamt up by a furloughed Easter Ross worker has fired the imagination of an entire community and will result in a lasting memento of one of the strangest times encountered in many people's lifetimes.

A memory path set to be created in Invergordon's Natal Garden will see hundreds of lovingly hand-painted stones laid to create a unique piece of public art that will serve as a permanent reminder of the challenges faced and overcome during the coronavirus crisis.

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Since we first reported on the idea last month, the project conceived by Suzie Legge has inspired hundreds of people to get involved. Concrete has already been laid in preparation for the stones which reflect a variety of themes ranging from gratitude to NHS and key workers to the another landmark event in the town's history, the 1915 HMS Natal explosion which resulted in the deaths of 421 sailors and civilians lost in the Cromarty Firth.

A cement bed for the arced path has already been laid. People have been given until today to complete and handover the stones to local collection points and they will be set in concrete during the summer holidays.

Ms Legge said: "I have had so many messages from people wanting to include a stone. It has been lovely. It has been really nice when varnishing them to recognise some names and see some of the amazing designs people have come up with.

"The positive messages from people has been great and it has been a nice distraction during the lockdown period. I'm used to being at work and having a busy life and was struggling to adjust. The reaction from people has been great."

She hopes the path will become a "memory board" and that some of the children who have contributed will in time bring their own young ones to see it as they remember a strange time in their own lives.

Related: Hard graft recognised at Natal Garden

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