Three towns in Scotland are to set to benefit from a share of £5.68m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The funding will be used to help transform the economic fortunes of the towns by restoring historic buildings and streets in the area.

The towns awarded the monies, underneath the HLF's Townscape Heritage Programme, are Fraserburgh, Govan and Paisley.

The Fraserburgh Town Centre Heritage Regeneration Scheme has been awarded funding of £1.8m for a five-year programme of repair and conservation projects. This will include the restoration of the former town hall and adjoining police station. Heritage activities, such as walking tours and open days, education and training links with schools and colleges and a focus on boosting town centre business, will also receive investment.

Govan Cross Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) has received initial support for a £1.8m Townscape Heritage bid, for a project which aims to build on the success of the first, smaller, Govan Cross THI. The historic core of Govan features a concentration of fine, listed buildings. Among those buildings to be restored will be Govan Old – the home of the Govan Stones.

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The former church will be transformed into a heritage visitor centre to display the Viking-age monuments. Funding will also be put towards repairing other important buildings, improving shop fronts and restoring the gates to Elder Park.

The third project to secure funding will see properties repaired as part of the Paisley Town Centre Conservation Area. A total of £1.99m has been given to Renfrewshire Council for the work, which will focus on High Street, Shuttle Street and Dunn Square. In addition to building repair work and public realm improvements, there will be opportunities for people to learn and develop skills based on Paisley's weaving and textile heritage.

Colin McLean, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland, commented: "The regeneration of town centres is an obvious way in which we as an organisation can make an important contribution to improving the economy of an area and the standard of living for the people resident there.

"Investing Lottery money to revitalise historic buildings at the heart of a community, not only makes a place more attractive to live, visit and invest in, it also provides jobs and training opportunities for local people.

"We are delighted to make these awards as part of our on-going commitment to preserving Scotland's heritage in a way in which is relevant to the needs of today."

(JP/IT)