GREG Moodie, cartoonist at The National, has created a unique series of murals based on the Burns poem Tam O’Shanter at the Torphichen Inn in West Lothian.

Instead of the traditional Alloway Kirk, Moodie set the poem in Torphichen using local landmarks and people from the village as the main characters.

He also rendered the seven panels in the collage cartoon style that will be familiar to readers of this paper.

“It’s only fitting,” said Moodie, “that a cultural centre such as The People’s Republic Of Torphichen should have a tribute to one of Scotland’s icons, and that Robert Burns should also play a part.”

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop, visiting the Inn yesterday, said: “As an Alloway girl and Culture Secretary, I can heartily recommend this take on the Burns poem.”