A NEW North East pipe band has revealed the secret behind its colourful Highland uniforms yesterday - the kilts and other items came not from Scotland but from Pakistan.

Pipe major Barry Waldron expected to pay about £900 to kit out each member of the Rowan Pipe Band, based at Winston near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

But before he placed an order the band secretary, Jim Pearson, checked on the Internet and found he could get the same items for £450 a head from a maker in Pakistan.

Mr Pearson, who is the line-up's pipe sergeant, sent off his own measurements and soon received a full outfit. He turned up wearing it at the next rehearsal in Winston Village Hall.

As well as a Colquhoun tartan kilt, he wore a Glengarry hat, black cockfeather, hose tops, gaiters, dirk, skian dubh, crossbelt, waist belt and plaid.

All this impressed Mr Waldron, who immediately sent off an order for himself and five others, and the outfits arrived in time for them to make their debut in them at Bishop Auckland.

The pipe major said yesterday, "We ordered as many as we could afford, but when we have more cash in the kitty we will send for more, as they are such a tremendous bargain.

"I was a bit doubtful about buying things from Pakistan, but we have now discovered that this company has been supplying band equipment to the British Army for 100 years."

Mr Waldron is also pipe major of the Richmond Town Pipe Band, which was previously known as Teesdale Pipes and Drums, and he bought all the players' outfits from Scotland.

He said: "I meant to go back to Scotland again until Jim Pearson checked the Internet. It may seem a shame to turn away from traditional suppliers, but we can't afford to turn down a bargain like this."

A band contingent played at the Newgate Centre in Bishop Auckland last weekend and collected £708 from shoppers. "We were thrilled to receive so much," said Mr Waldron. "The shoppers seemed to love our music and we heard many comments about our lovely new uniforms."