FOUR thousand pipers and drummers are preparing to descend on a Scottish town for one of the world’s biggest piping events.

Paisley is preparing for an invasion from thousands of contestants clad in tartan,

as part of the British Pipe Band Championships.

The event – the first of piping’s five summer “majors” and second-only in size to the Worlds – will feature 123 bands from across the UK and Ireland, and drum and pipe majors from as far afield as the US, Denmark and Belgium.

For the first time the event will feature a Highland Games competition and Scottish Open Strongman contest featuring World’s Strongest Man competitors – including the chance for visitors to test their own strength.

Other free activities include Highland dancing, a food village with a bar, and a range of family entertainment.

Event organisers Renfrewshire Council and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association have also teamed up with McGill’s Buses to transport spectators to and from the event – free of charge.

The free family event is at the St James Playing Fields in Paisley and starts today at 10am.