SPIRITS are soaring as the countdown to the Dunfermline Gin Festival is now underway.

And the annual event in the Glen Pavilion, in Pittencrieff Park, will be just the tonic for charities and good causes who are set to benefit.

The Rotary Club of Dunfermline are bringing back the crowd-pleasing festival on May 12 and 13 with a heady cocktail of gins, rums, tequilas, beer, live music and a DJ over two party nights.

Rotarian David Walker explained: “The festival’s main objective is fund-raising for local charities.

"Our two previous festivals were packed out on both nights, helping us to raise over £25,000 to date for local charities’ events.

“We will again feature over 40 gins, with many more flavours on offer, plus the highly successful introduction of rums last year will also see many more brands on offer this year, as well as tequilas, gin shots and beers.”

Live music will be provided by the multi-award-winning band, Cut the Cake, on both nights.

They'll play two sets each night, with a DJ providing party tunes before, between and after the sets until 1am.

The ticket price of £20 is unchanged from last year and buys entry to the event, a stemmed commemorative gin glass to keep, a complimentary first drink and a programme with full details of all the available gins.

David added: “Our event is designed to differ from most other gin festivals, due to the party atmosphere we hope to create from the live music, DJ and the sheer numbers we hope will attend.

"Our own vice-president, Alan Condie, plays keyboards in the band and this event is his final performance with the band before he passes over the keys to a new member.

“The Glen Pavilion can officially hold up to 600 people each night. We have only just started selling tickets online and they are already going well.

“Please book tickets online via the event website: dunfermlineginfestival.co.uk.

“Regular updates for the event will be also be posted on our Facebook page and on our website.”