An impromptu virtual ceilidh - which in the words of one teacher is providing a “constant stream of catharsis and wonderful sharing of music” - has taken off on Twitter.

The ceilidh - featuring talented Scottish pupils and music teachers - can be found via the hashtag #CovidCeilidh. It was launched by Highland fiddle player and composer Duncan Chisholm, to give comfort and to help people stay connected as they practise social distancing or self-isolate to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Scottish schools were forced to close their doors as a result of coronavirus at the end of last week.

Music lifts spirits in the coronavirus crisis

The result is a collection of short traditional music clips, from a young bagpiper in isolation playing for his grandparents who live across the field, to Katie “aged five and three-quarters” playing the song Calum’s Road with her dad.

Highlighting the new stream of music, Scottish teacher Athole McLauchlan recommended teachers follow the hashtag. He tweeted: “This is a constant stream of catharsis and wonderful sharing of amazing music.”