A new wetlands area is to be created in Aberdeen, as part of the long-awaited restoration of the East Tullos Burn.

Aberdeen City Council has secured a £300,000 funding package to give the burn, in St Fitticks Park, Torry, a major facelift.

Over the years, the burn has been straightened and over-deepened, resulting in a degraded channel and low biodiversity.

The council commissioned a feasibility study 18 months ago to see if the burn could be restored to a more natural state, improving the park's visual appeal, enhancing biodiversity and potentially reducing pollution in the burn.

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A design, which incorporates a new, meandering course for the burn as well as the creation of wetland and pond areas, with extensive planting of wetland plants and trees, was produced in consultation with the local community.

Funding for the restoration project has been supplied by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's Water Environment Fund, Aberdeen Greenspace Trust, Total, Aberdeen Forward, and the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership.

Aberdeen City Council Housing and Environment Convener Councillor Neil Cooney said: "This is a fantastic project which will bring great benefits not only to the local area, but to the city as a whole.

"The East Tullos Burn has not been without its problems over the years and I am delighted that we are finally in a position, with the generous support of our external partners, to get this valuable restoration project underway."

On-site construction will be managed by Pete Barlow of Salix.

(CD/MH)