Buddhists build on peace of Scotland

BRITAIN'S FIRST Stupa, ornate onion-shaped Buddhist monuments more at home in the Himalayas, are to be built in the Scottish countryside as symbols of peace for the new millennium.

A 63ft-high "Stupa for world peace" will stand at the gateway of Samye Ling, the largest Buddhist temple in Europe, near Eskdalemuir in Dumfriesshire. A second 108ft-high "Victory Stupa" is planned for Holy Island, off Arran in the Firth of Clyde. The island is owned by the Buddhists of Samye Ling.

Doug Scott, the first Briton to scale Everest, is leading a series of treks in Nepal to help to raise the pounds 200,000 needed for the project. Participants must raise pounds 2,500 in sponsorship.

The two Stupa will be built to the specifications in an early Buddhist text.