The exclusion zone at the dangerous former Station Hotel building in Ayr is to be extended after contractors identified crumbling and exposed roof areas.

South Ayrshire Council Chief Executive, Eileen Howat, said the areas present "a significant and immediate danger to people and places around the station".

She continued: "This is not action that anyone is taking lightly, but is wholly designed to keep people safe, and not put them at risk as a result of the failure of the private owner of the building to address the safety concerns we have highlighted time and time again.

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"Network Rail and ScotRail have been fully involved in the discussions about this and – as a result – a reduced service will be operating between Glasgow Central and Ayr, supported by rail replacement buses.

"Our priority right now is to continue to work with Network Rail and ScotRail to keep their passengers, staff and the public safe, before continuing discussions regarding the next steps that need to be taken to address the dangers of the Station Hotel building."

The Council was forced to step in to begin works on the dangerous building after the private owners failed to respond to a statutory warning notice.

The repairs are focused around:

• defective sandstone on elevations and gables;

• loose/unsecure downpipes;

• loose slates and decorative ironworks repairs; and

• the removal of the Station Hotel sign from the roof.

(CM/MH)