Aberdeenshire Council has appointed a contractor to deliver urgent protection and recovery works at Portsoy Harbour.

The move follows a partial breach of the old harbour wall on New Year’s Day, caused by prolonged, heavy storm seas.

Safety barriers are in place and the public is being urged to stay clear of all activity at the site while operations proceed.

Over the next five weeks – weather permitting – teams will create a temporary working platform using concrete blocks to span the gap between rocks at the end of the West Quay and the outer harbour wall.

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A semi-circular ring of one-tonne cement bags will then be placed on the outside of the damaged section to reduce further harm and provide some protection, followed by a line of concrete blocks along the remaining foundation stones to form the base of a new concrete core for the breached wall.

The contractor will also assess and remove any loose or unsafe material within the remaining structure to improve site safety, and will recover and store loose facing stones for future reinstatement.

Harbours Principal Officer Simon Jessel said: "Our initial focus is on getting these emergency repairs undertaken as quickly as possible to secure the wider integrity of the harbour wall.

"The future restoration of the wall will of course be subject to available funding and approval. As the harbour wall is a listed structure, we will hold early discussions with Historic Environment Scotland to discuss any future rebuilding of the breached section."