A JOHNSTONE teenager has vowed to conquer her fear of heights this weekend by taking to the skies for an aerial acrobatic display.

Bethany Docherty, 14, is part of a group of young volunteers who will be showing off their skills at the Paisley Hallowe’en Festival.

She has been training with leading aerial dance company All or Nothing to learn spectacular routines that will be performed in front of thousands of people.

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All or Nothing has choreographed a dance piece involving 50 young people for a Flying Witches performance around Paisley Town Hall and Paisley Abbey.

Bethany, who is a fourth year pupil at Castlehead High School, in Paisley, said the experience has given her a confidence boost – and will also help her beat her phobia.

She told The Gazette: “I’m actually terrified of heights but I’m pushing myself. I need to get over it one way or another and it’s better I do it with my own will.

“I wanted to take part because I thought it would be fun and I wanted to put myself a bit more out there.

“If I get to perform on the night, it will be scary but amazing and just very energising.

“The biggest challenge for me has actually been coming along to the Hallowe’en meetings for young people and socialising but people have been very supportive.”

Jennifer Paterson, director of All or Nothing, added: “Getting involved in aerial is a great way to conquer your fears and it’s good to have a healthy respect for heights.”

A 20-strong youth panel has been working with Renfrewshire Council’s events team to help create the programme of events for Saturday’s festival fun.

A further 180 young people are involved in every aspect of the festival, from performance to live event management and technical production.

A Mardi Gras-style parade featuring 500 young people and costumed performers will set off from Paisley Arts Centre and snake through town, passing lighting installations and haunting soundscapes along the way.

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As well as All or Nothing, young people have been working with creative event company Bridgeman Arts and production and pyro experts at 21CC.

Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “Young people are at the very heart of this year’s Hallowe’en Festival and it’s great to see them growing in confidence and learning new skills.”