A KEEN walker who has turned stage star to make his Edinburgh Festival debut at the age of 68 is taking it in all in his stride.

Storyteller Jimmy Law has been performing in his own show at the Fringe for the last three weeks.

The Burns fan visits the arts extravaganza in the capital every year to watch his friend performing - and this year he decided to go for it himself.

His show is a mix of stories and poems that take the audience on a tour of Scotland's spoken word.

During the tour he meets Robert Burns and many other colourful characters.

Jimmy, from Skelmorlie, said: "I started my own Burns Club in Skelmorlie 24 years ago and I had 30 poems in my head, around 20 Burns poems.

"It's the first time I've ever performed at the festival, it's been a good laugh.

"I've tended to choose humourous poems."

His biggest audience has been 23 people who enjoyed his one man act.

Jimmy speaks to around 15 different groups every year about Burns and says the festival is an extension of his half an hour talks.

He is married to Mary and they have a daughter Katie and a son Richard and two grandchildren Emily and Chloe.

Jimmy who worked for British Rail then ScotRail for more than 40 years, also has another passion - walking.

He is getting ready to take part in the Inverclyde Stride.

The grandfather caught the hillwalking bug as a scout in Inverkip and has clocked up thousands of miles throughout the years.

He has taken part in the 54-mile Caledonian Challenge three times, and also completed the Glasgow Kiltwalk with two friends to raise £750 for Ardgowan Hospice.

Jimmy is doing the 18-mile local coastal walk on Saturday August 31 with some friends to help Inverkip Church raise funds for a defibrillator.

He said: "The event is a good idea - it encourages more people to get out and it's good to see people out practising.

"Walking is good exercise and everyone can do it."

* Jimmy's final fringe show will be at the Natural Food Kafe in Clerk Street on Saturday (24th) at 4.30pm.