Stirling's famous Black Boy Fountain is to undergo refurbishment in time for summer, the council has announced.

The Allan park structure was earmarked for vital maintenance at the end of last year. Now a team of expert restorers and engineers are due to begin work from next week.

The fountain itself will be removed and taken away for stripping and repainting. Stonework around the fountain will be restored and work will begin to correct a persistent leak. The whole project is anticipated to take six to eight weeks to complete.

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Environment Convenor Councillor Danny Gibson said: "This a major refurbishment of one of the city centre’s most prominent and popular historic landmarks. A leak in the water system has meant that the fountain has had to be turned off and on every day to allow the water supply to replenish. If we can get to the bottom of this then it should mean the fountain being operational for many more years to come."

The Black Boy Fountain dates from 1849 and is the last known example of the work of Neilson and Co of Glasgow. It commemorates Stirling victims of the medieval Black Death, which swept the area in 1369 and killed a third of the population. The structure has been B-listed since 1965 and was last refurbished in 1997.

(IT/MH)