Scottish Water is to invest more than £60m to protect coastal areas and rivers in parts of North, East and South Ayrshire in one of the biggest projects of its kind ever undertaken in Scotland.

The investment, which is part of Scottish Water's 2010 Vision for Ayrshire, will provide massive environmental benefits and help to us to meet stringent EC directives and bathing water standards.

A total of £48m of the investment will be spent specifically on improving the quality of the bathing waters and natural environment of Irvine Bay, the River Irvine and the Kilmarnock Water.

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This part of the scheme will consist of several projects including the construction of new pipelines and pumping stations, which transfer sewage flow to Meadowhead Waste Water Treatment Works near Irvine. The areas which will benefit from the overall investment will include Irvine, Kilmarnock, Saltcoats, Troon, Barassie and Hurlford.

Investigation work is currently under way to identify the requirements of each project and details will be provided when this work is completed

Jim Roddy, Scottish Water's project manager, said: "We are at the early design stage and are looking to deliver projects which will benefit communities in parts of North, East and South Ayrshire and will help provide a cleaner environment for everyone.

"This will benefit local residents who use the beach and rivers in the Irvine and Kilmarnock areas for recreational purposes and will also help make the areas more attractive to tourists and visitors, which can only help the local economy. Scottish Water takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and we are thinking ahead."

(GK/JM)