Housing group buys Peter Pan site

Some kind of visitor centre could be built at Moat Brae

A housing association has bought the mansion which helped inspire JM Barrie's classic Peter Pan.

Moat Brae house in Dumfries went up for sale last month and a closing date was set for bids last week.

Now the riverside property has been secured by Loreburn Housing Association.

Chief executive officer Ahsan Khan said the building had immense historic value which needed to be recognised in any plans for its future.

"It's great news that Loreburn has been able to secure this important building for the town," he said.

He added that the association would now discuss with the local council any proposals for the building.

"We would like to preserve as much of the garden as possible because that is the real link with JM Barrie," he said.

"I would also like to see some sort of link to Peter Pan - a visitor centre or something like that."

JM Barrie was born in Kirriemuir in Angus but moved to Dumfries in 1873 at the age of 13.

Two of his childhood friends lived at Moat Brae, a place he later credited as his inspiration for Peter Pan.