Road diverts timber from village

The road will divert about 10,000 timber lorries away from the village

A £4.5m road designed to take timber lorries away from a rural Dumfriesshire village has been opened.

It has been estimated that, once fully operational, the route will divert about 10,000 timber lorries away from Eskdalemuir.

The forest road development has been described as a model project - offering a solution for local residents while protecting a £5m-a-year local industry.

The road was opened by Culture and External Affairs Minster Mike Russell.

The scheme involved a partnership of private forest owners and managers, Forestry Commission Scotland and the local authority.

It was paid for by the Strategic Timber Transport Fund, with additional funds from Dumfries and Galloway Council, and timber firms Kronospan and UPM Tilhill.

Mr Russell also launched a new multi-user trail developed as part of the of the timber route project.

It runs between Eskdalemuir and the Samye Ling Tibetan Centre.