One of the UK's leading ferry operators, Caledonian MacBrayne, has announced its support for one of the country's top music festivals.

The Hebridean Celtic Festival, staged annually in Stornoway, will be supported by CalMac for the second year running as part of the ferry operator's commitment to the Western Isles and its customers.

Caroline MacLennan, Festival Director, said: "Over half of our 10,000 festival-goers at last year's event travelled here via CalMac. We are excited and pleased that our working partnership of 2003 will be continued in 2004.

"CalMac's continuing collaboration with the festival will help ensure that those attending this year's event will enjoy the top quality experience that's been delivered in the past. CalMac's professionalism and excellence of service has been much appreciated by the visitors travelling here and our partnership also adds to the high quality of the festival itself. We look forward to having an extensive partnership."

Mary Ann Campbell, CalMac's Route Manager, Stornoway, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Hebridean Celtic Festival once again. Last year's event was an outstanding success and we fully expect this year to better that. Already the indications are that more people will attend from all over the world. This is good for the festival and good for CalMac and the islands. Our support is linked to performance by the organisers and they have already proven that they are up for the challenge which they successfully negotiated last year. The community stands to gain a great deal from events like this and we are only too willing to be part of what is a continuing success to our mutual benefit.

"Upcoming awards for Caledonian MacBrayne from customers and key travel industry experts are set to establish our company as one of the top three in the whole of the UK. We believe that our high level of service and commitment to our customers, such as the partnership with the Hebridean Celtic Festival, have been important ingredients in that success."

For information on the 2004 Hebridean Celtic Festival visit www.hebceltfest.co.uk