Scottish comedian Billy Connolly has turned his back on his home country to buy tartan from a Pool-in-Wharfedale mill.

And to further enrage his fellow countrymen, the three-quarters of a mile of material is not his family tartan but a more simple and cheaper version.

The canny entertainer, who is known as the Big Yin and is hosting his 60th birthday bash in Aberdeenshire this weekend, has enlisted the help of Marton Mills workers in Otley Road to supply tartan to adorn his highland mansion.

Celebrity guests at the party are expected to include Dame Judi Dench, American actor and comedian Steve Martin and Monty Python star Eric Idle.

The 32 workers at the mill were handed the task of making the 600 metres of red tartan and 600 metres of green tartan at very short notice.

Staff had just over a week to complete the tartan, which cost around £6 a metre - £7,200 altogether.

Company director Richard Watts, whose family have owned the mill for generations, said: "It was quite a rush job but we all pulled together and made sure the order was done on time and was top quality.

"The tartan has now been shipped up to Scotland and the party sounds like it's going to be a fantastic, star-studded event, but I'm afraid I've not got an invite!

The two pieces of tartan are the equivalent to the length of 12 average size football pitches.

They were made to Mr Connolly's specifications and are said to be similar to a family tartan but cheaper because they are not exact replicas. One is a hunting MacLean of Duart and the other is a modern MacLean of Duart. Mr Watts said the tartan would probably be used to decorate the walls and ceilings at Mr Connolly's mansion, Canda-craig.

Mr Connolly, who is a keen charity fundraiser, usually hosts a birthday party around the time of the annual Lonach Gathering despite his birthday not being until November.

But it is understood this year's celebrations have been moved forward a week so as not to overshadow the Gathering.