The approach to the new visitor centre at Culloden. © NTS

An international search has been launched to find young people whose ancestors fought on either side at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

The National Trust for Scotland is on the hunt for two such youngsters, who will help officially open the new Culloden visitor centre on April 16 2008.

The centre, which uses modern technology to tell the story of Culloden through accounts of people who lived at the time, opened its doors to the public and members of the Trust in December 2007 and the official opening is due to be held on the anniversary of the battle in April.

"We're encouraging young people of school age to start discovering who their ancestors were all those centuries ago and who knows, maybe they are related to people who actually fought at the battle of Culloden in 1746,” said the Trust's Culloden project co-ordinator Alexander Bennett.

“We want to hear from them at the National Trust for Scotland if they find out there is a family link with the battle.”

The Clan Donald stone marks one of the clan graves at Culloden © National Trust Scotland.

Mr Bennett explained the project would also begin to dispel the myth that Culloden was a conflict between England and Scotland. “In fact, many Scots fought with the Government troops and some families had members who fought on opposing sides, often against their will,” he explained.

“So if you think this might be you, with an ancestor who fought in the battle and maybe even with two ancestors who fought on either side of Culloden, do let us know.”

The project is being backed by Dr Nick Barratt of the successful BBC One television series Who Do You Think You Are?

Dr Barratt has supplied invaluable tips on the Trust's Culloden webpages www.nts.org.uk/Culloden for anyone who wants to research their family tree. He has also agreed to be on the panel to help judge the entries.

Anyone of school age who would like to take part in the competition should send their family tree by email to the NTS at cullodenlegacy@nts.org.uk or by post to "Search for Culloden's legacy " competition, c/o Platform Public Relations Ltd, The Old Station, Station Road, Beauly, Inverness-shire, IV4 7EG before Wednesday 19 March 2008 when their entry will be considered by the panel.

More information is available now at www.nts.org.uk/Culloden