For glamorous former model Sonia Uribe is making a documentary on the mystery which will target younger audiences around the world.

And Sonia has praised the Highland News for its exclusive story last month on the lack of Nessie sightings this summer which has led to a monster frenzy over the past week when a string of national newspapers picked up on it.

Speaking exclusively to the HN this week, Sonia said: "I had been to Loch Ness a few weeks ago looking at locations for filming with Willie Cameron of Loch Ness Marketing and then I went on the internet and found the Highland News story about the fall in the number of sightings of Nessie.

"I think it certainly kick-started the recent national media interest and that can only be good for Loch Ness."

Last month we revealed that there had only been two sighting so far this year. Nessie enthusiasts and tourist operators were blaming the bad weather but expect a huge boost next year in the wake of a blockbuster movie about the monster.

And US TV personality Sonia Uribe believes she can also introduce thousands of youngsters to the legend of Nessie in an hour-long programme and ensure the enduring mystery of the loch continues.

"I had read on the internet that there have been fewer sightings this year. But I have no doubt that the monster exists and I am sure we can encourage a new generation of Nessie hunters.

"I believe the problem in the past has been documentaries on the Loch Ness Monster have been perhaps too scientific to appeal to younger viewers.

"The documentary I am making will be done in such a way that will engage with young people.

"It will be fun and exciting and I am sure we will succeed in getting young people all around the world to research the mystery of the monster and sustain the legend of the loch."

The timing of the documentary couldn't be better.

The producers hope to have it finished by November and the following month the film The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep based on the book Dick King-Smith about a boy who finds an enchanted egg beside a Scottish loch is launched stateside.

"Our programme fits in well with the film because there is going to massive interest in sea monsters when The Water Horse is screened," added Sonia who has interviewed both believers and non-believers in her quest to get to the bottom of the Nessie legend.

"I think there is something of the order of 11,000 Nessie sightings in total. Many locals have seen something on the loch which they have not reported for fear of being ridiculed.

"And of course there have been reported sightings which have been proved to be fakes.

Sonia Uribe came to Loch Ness to film her documentary. Alasdair Allen

"But there have also been many credible sightings by people who genuinely believe what they saw was not a mirage or some other unexplained trick of the eye.

"I firmly believe Nessie exists and I don't want the mystery to die out. So this is why my documentary, whilst appealing to every generation, will particularly appeal to the young."

To achieve that Sonia is going scuba diving in the loch, camping out over night on its shores, and flying over the loch in a bid to capture further evidence of the existence of the monster of the loch."

Producer with London-based Three-Way Productions who are filming the documentary, Peter Hall, said: "Sonia is an extremely talented young presenter who is a journalist as well.

"She has real in-depth knowledge of the mystery of Loch Ness and obviously has done considerable research.

"One of the people she interviewed was local naturalist Adrian Shine who has his own views on Nessie and I suppose is a bit of sceptic.

"But after his interview with Sonia he told me that he was shocked because he had never done such a gruelling interview in his whole life.

"So it's good to see a young person holding her own with someone as knowledgeable on the subject of Nessie as Adrian.

"And I think this is what is going to appeal to younger viewers."

Three weeks before they embarked on their trip north Peter revealed an amazing coincidence which he hopes is a good omen for the documentary which they will be marketing to TV stations around the globe when completed.

"I was visited by another young lady who is interested in doing some work with us and it turned out she was Katie Dinsdale, the grand-daughter of the late Tim Dinsdale who took some classic footage of the 'monster' in 1960."

Anyone wanting to finding out more can log on to Sonia's website at http://www.sonia-uribe.com

d.wilson@highland-news.co.uk

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