It’s been an exciting week for a tiny Highlands newspaper which just happens to have the wedding of the year taking place on its doorstep.

The Northern Times sounds like a large paper but in reality has just one reporter and no full time photographic staff.

But the paper’s patch became the focus of the world this week after Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie arrived in the small village of Dornoch to get married and to Christen their baby son Rocco.

Sting, Donatello Versace and Gwyneth Paltrow were just some of the many international celebrities to descend on the area to attend the eagerly-anticipated ceremonies.

Speaking on the morning of the wedding, Editor Duncan Ross, told HoldTheFrontPage he was planning to focus on the commercial possibilities created by the event.

He said: “This is one of the biggest things to happen to Dornoch in years.

“It has given local businesses a short term boost just before Christmas and it has also done a lot of long-term good in raising the profile of the area.

“When Dornoch residents are on holiday in the future, instead of having to go all round the houses explaining where they live, they’ll be able to say it was where Madonna got married.

“In my mind, she’s the most famous woman in the world and to have her here is fantastic – everyone’s very excited.”

Despite the lack of numbers at the Northern Times, Duncan has still managed to devote a lot of coverage to the story.

He said: “We did a pull-out supplement to get people in the mood for the big event and we’ll feature it quite heavily next week.

“I’ve written stuff, my deputy has written stuff and even the advertising editor has helped out – its been a real team effort.

“For photos we have a freelance photographer who stood outside the baptism and will try his luck at the wedding to see how far he can get.

“This is absolutely brilliant publicity for the area and its an event we’ll remember for many years to come.

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