WHITCHURCH Rotary Club has held a Burns Night to honour one of Scotland's most iconic figures.

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist, born on January 25, 1759 and is regarded by many as the national poet of Scotland.

Burns died in 1797 and since then Scottish people, fans of his work and various other groups across the UK and the world have marked his birth with an evening of tradition, including the addressing of the haggis, toasts to the lasses and laddies and singing Auld Lang Syne.

Whitchurch Rotary Club were one of those to mark the evening, with nearly 60 Rotarians and guests coming together at the Dodington Lodge to enjoy a special haggis, which had come down from Scotland especially for the occasion.

Leading the tributes on the evening was David Hewitt, with everyone wearing a touch of tartan to celebrate.

Fellow Rotarian Keith Senior gave the special grace to start the proceeding with Mike Nimmo talking about Burns' very merry life.

District governor Brian Riley gave the traditional Toast to the Lasses with Hazel Nimmo giving a 'very saucy' reply in the Toast to the Laddies.

After the various toasts had been completed, the evening was rounded off with a rendition of the traditional Scottish song, Auld Lang Syne.