First Minister Alex Salmond has announced grants to repair and conserve Scotland's war memorials.

The first grants, from the Centenary Memorial Restoration Fund, will help repair and conserve the country's war memorials.

Under the funding, Elderslie, Bridge of Weir and Bearsden will each receive a share of £22,500 to repair memorials damaged through causes such as weather erosion, graffiti and poor historic restoration efforts.

The work includes:

• New Kilpatrick Church, Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire (£9,107). The grant will help fund repair and stabilisation works to the sandstone, removal of the existing joints and re-pointing using a lime mortar, removal of graffiti and the re-painting of the memorial inscriptions.



• Elderslie, Abbey Cemetery, Renfrewshire (£6,005). The grant funding will support the removal of existing mortar joints and re-pointing of the memorial and the supporting wall using a lime mortar. Work will also include the repair of cracked cladding panels, re-fixing of loose panels, replacement of badly damaged stonework and the re-painting of the memorial inscription.
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• Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire (£7,461). The grant funding will support works which include the removal of cracked or missing cement joints in the boundary wall and re-pointing using a lime mortar. Badly worn away sections of stone will be replaced and the ironwork railings will be cleaned and re-painted. In addition to the boundary wall work, the memorial will be correctly cleaned and the inscription will be re-painted.

Announcing the funds, Minister Salmond said: "Scotland's war memorials are a lasting tribute to fallen service men and women and it is hugely important that they are maintained. We owe it to the names inscribed on these memorials as well as the families they've left behind to keep monuments in a proud condition, reflecting the respect they deserve.

"War monuments play a central role in educating our young people about the ultimate sacrifice members of their community have paid to safeguard our way of life and our freedom throughout the generations.

"This year holds particular significance, as it is the last before next year's centenary of the outbreak of the First World War."

The Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund is a £1m scheme which was launched to commemorate the centenary of World War One.

(JP/IT)