NEXT year's Up Helly Aa festival in Shetland has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Organisers of the annual event said they took the decision to "ensure the festival does not contribute to the spread of Covid-19".
It had been due to take place on January 26, 2021.
The event, which attracts visitors from around the globe, takes place in Lerwick on the last Tuesday of January each year.
People dressed as Vikings march through the streets of the town to recreate its ancient Viking past, in a tradition dating back to the 19th century.
In a statement, the Up Helly Aa Committee said the unanimous decision followed consultation with key partners.
It said: "The nature of Up Helly Aa, the numbers involved and the potential of large numbers of visitors to the isles are all risks that were taken into account.
READ MORE: Shetland Viking walk fuels embers of Norse history in Scotland
"The festival going ahead in its current format would be difficult with any restrictions in place and with uncertainty surrounding what guidance would be in place in January, there was no guarantee the festival could happen at all.
"The health and safety of the community, participants and the many volunteers it takes to deliver the festival was the priority of committee members when making the decision."
The 2022 festival will take place on Tuesday, January 25.
Highlights of the event include a march led by the Guizer Jarl, or chief guizer, culminating in a torch-lit procession and a replica longboat being set alight.
Volunteers are responsible for the building of the galley boat and the production of more than 1000 torches.
Those taking part in the festival spend the night visiting a host of celebrations in halls around the town.
Shetland and neighbouring Orkney were under Norwegian rule for about 500 years until they became part of Scotland in 1468.
The festival stems from the 1870s when a group of young local men wanted to put new ideas into Shetland's Christmas celebrations.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here