Construction work has started at a new educational and community facility in Brechin.

The £26.5m Brechin Community Campus project will include a replacement dwelling for Brechin High School and enhanced community leisure facilities, as well as a performance space and accommodation for adult learning and youth activities.

Marking the start of works on site, Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "I am pleased that we could contribute over £14 million in funding for the construction of the new Brechin High School which will provide state of the art accommodation for more than 1,000 pupils.

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"I am delighted to help mark this milestone in the construction process which will result in a fantastic new school that the whole community can be proud of for many years to come and I look forward to seeing the new school in 2016.

"The Scottish Government is committed to delivering good quality, well designed, sustainable schools through an investment of £1.25 billion in Scotland's Schools for the Future programme."

Council Leader Iain Gaul added: "I am delighted to see work start on this project which will create a facility of which everyone in Brechin can be proud. The campus approach allows us to bring together a range of enhanced services and facilities designed for use both during and out with the school day by the whole community."

Robertson has been appointed for the project and it is thought the first phase of construction will be completed by December 2015, with the first pupils moving into the new facility in early 2016.

The former building will then be demolished between January and July 2016, with external works and new car parking also being carried out during this time.

(JP/MH)