East Renfrewshire Council has said sections of wall at Mearns Kirk Church's cemetery re in urgent need of repair.

As a result, the Newton Mearns South Area Forum has pledged £4,000 to allow repairs to start as soon as possible.

Over the years, the headstones and walls surrounding the site have become dangerous and unsafe, with many of the graves going back as far as 1742. Work will now begin to make these safe.

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Temporary fencing has been erected around the site to ensure the safety of visitors to the graves but it hoped that these essential repairs will ensure that these fences can be removed shortly.

A local group meets regularly to try to find further sources of funding to secure long term repairs to the walls and graves.

The group include East Renfrewshire Councillor Ian McAlpine, East Renfrewshire Council's library and heritage staff, Mearns Kirk Church, Mearns History Group and Newton Mearns Community Council.

Councillor McAlpine said: "Mearns Kirk Church is one of the oldest and attractive places of worship in East Renfrewshire.

"Repair works need to be carried out urgently to secure some sections of the cemetery's walls and work is ongoing to find sources of funding to allow these vital repairs to be carried out."

(JP/MH)