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DINOSAURS have taken up residence in the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Inverness for a three-week programme of events.

Dinosaur Days includes a display of models and there will also be free craft activities for children in a specially-created Dino School in the food court area.

Kirstin Gault, the shopping centre's digital and marketing executive, said the programme was already capturing people's imaginations.

"The dinosaurs certainly arrived in Eastgate with a great big roar," she said.

"This is a new and exciting event held in the city centre and our triceratops, allosaurus and tyrannosaurus captivated visitors of all ages with an incredible number of children visiting the Dino School to showcase their artistic skills.

"Professor Jimmy McSaurus of the Scottish Institute of Dinosaurology, who has a wealth of dinosaur facts at his fingertips, will also be in the centre with a selection of dinosaur fossils."

Other activities, which take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays between noon and 4pm, include decorating mugs, making a dinosaur crown or mask or having a temporary tattoo.

Retailers are also joining in the Jurassic theme.

Waterstones bookshop will host a story session on October 23 at noon and 2pm.

The Entertainer, HMV and Pandora are also embracing the Jurassic theme which runs until November 2.

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