This week take a look back at the big North Ayrshire stories from March 2009.

And there was a lot going on 15 years ago, with Red Nose Day events, the Ayrshire Music Festival ... and a protest down in Saltcoats.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Hayocks

Pupils at Hayocks Primary School took Red Nose Day in March 2009 quite literally - as they were only allowed to do things that involved the colour red. All the staff and children came dressed in red and there were some wonderful sparkling red hats.

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Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: DoE

Over 80 young people from across North Ayrshire celebrated their success at a Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) ceremony in the Seamill Hydro in March 2009. Young people from Ardrossan Air Cadets, the Three Towns open DofE group, Reaching Out, Auchenharvie Academy, Kilwinning Academy and the Garnock Canoe Club were all in attendance.

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Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Chemist

Staff from The Chemist on Kilbirnie’s Main Street raised money for Comic Relief by dressing up and offering the customers home made baking for their donations in 2009. Pictured, from left to right, are Marion, Jean, Natalie and Susan.

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Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Stanley

Primary six and seven pupils at Ardrossan's Stanley Primary School took part in an environmental day in March 2009 and learned about saving energy. The school organised a large floor game for the children to play with. Pictured is Jason Colvin ready to take his shot at the board game with all his classmates who took part in the day.

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Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Piano

The 84th Ayrshire Music Festival began in March 2009 with two young piano stars taking the honours on the first day. Joni Gray of Coylton Primary and Chloe Trott of Corsehill Primary in Kilwinning were among the winners, coming first in two of the event's piano solo sections.

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Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Instructors joined a rally in a bid to save the Saltcoats Test Centre

“Madness” – that was the verdict of one leading councillor on the threat hanging over the Saltcoats driving test centre in 2009. Although the Driving Standards Agency denied that any decision had been taken, elected officials joined driving instructors to publicly protest at what they believed were plans to close the Old Raise Road centre and transfer business to Kilmarnock. Councillor Peter McNamara said: “This is madness and has to be opposed.”