A river restoration project in Cairngorms National Park has won an accolade at an awards ceremony.

The Allt Lorgy scheme near Carr-Bridge received the 'Innovative Project' prize at the 2016 UK Rivers Restoration awards.

The project involved successfully re-instigating natural processes to a straightened section of river that was not functioning effectively, impacting both the water and land environments.

Artificially high embankments were lowered into the river while artificial drainage ditches were filled in. In addition, rock armour was replaced with softer wood structures.

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Three years later, the project has attracted "considerable attention" from the rivers restoration community.

The work was designed by CBec Engineering Ltd and funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Spey District Fishery Board and the CNPA.

The project was managed by the Spey Catchment Initiative, a multi partnership project that carries out river and riparian improvements.

Project Officer Liz Henderson said: "We are delighted that the work we have been undertaking up here in the Highlands has been recognised at a National Level.

"There can often be a tendency to micro design restoration solutions but sometimes simple approaches such as demonstrated here are just as effective."

(LM)