Aberdeenshire Council has said the first stage of a multi-million pound redevelopment project at a north east park is complete.

Contractors have spent the last two years at Haddo Country Park as they carried out a major redevelopment of the 18th century site, and last month they finished major building works at the site.

The £1.8m scheme involves a complete redesign of the park layout, as well as the restoration of several listed buildings, statues ad other features. New facilities will also been created, such as a state-of-the-art visitor's centre, a new adventure playground and a bridge to the Craigie Wood section of the park as well as large scale resurfacing and landscaping work.

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Diana Spencer, Visitor Services Officer at the park, is quoted as saying: "The local community are already very attached to Haddo - a high proportion of our visitors come from within 10 miles and many of them visit more than once a week.

"The redevelopment will also hopefully see the park's reputation further enhanced with visitors from the wider north east, the rest of Scotland as well as further afield.

"The park really is very special – it is recognised nationally as an 'outstanding' representative of the period and the regeneration will only add to that. Longer term, a key aim of the redevelopment is to help boost in visitor numbers but it is also important to stress that the park remains open while the project is ongoing."

Chair of the Formartine area committee, Councillor Rob Merson, added: "We are delighted that the project has now reached such an important milestone and that many of the improvements are now there for all to see.

"Restoration of an historic site like this while maintaining its integrity and character isn't a simple process which is why planning began as long ago as 2005.

"It's been a long time coming but it really has been worth the wait and I know the park staff are looking forward to welcoming people from across the north east and further afield."

(JP/IT)