FURTHER funding has been allocated to carry out "urgent and essential" work on Irvine's historic Seagate Castle.

Back in March 2020, North Ayrshire Council approved the allocation of £250,000 from the town's common good fund so stabilisation and conservation works could be carried out at the Irvine landmark - said to be visited by Mary Queen of Scots.

However, the progression of this project was delayed as a result of the Covid pandemic meaning only design, investigation and preparatory works have taken place since - with little physical changes made as of yet.

And over four years later, it means that project costs have nearly double - to an estimated £452,420.

As a result, at a full council meeting last week, a further £263,420 was allocated to the works from the common good fund - taking the total allocation from the fund over half a million pounds.

Though the agreement of this funding does not mean that more physical work will commence just yet.

Formal applications will be submitted in June before tenders go out for the work in October and a contractor is appointed in December.

Work is expected to start in March next year, with completion set for September.

However, it is expected this will be carried out to avoid any ongoing work during the Marymass Festival in August.