Midlothian Council has provided a first look at how the Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend, near Edinburgh, could look following £500,000 worth of improvements

The local authority, which owns and operates the centre, has drawn up the plans alongside a team of expert designers to improve the skiing experience for beginners and regular users.

Plans feature an additional 210m (689ft) slope on the hill; a new 80m (262ft) nursery slope; and extension and improvement work to existing nursery slopes with safer matting.

New snowtubing runs and the installation of two new travellator uplift systems will also be among the improvements, which will be funded by sportscotland.

Midlothian Council leader Derek Milligan said: "This impression shows the exciting potential for development at Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend.

"If the plans get the necessary planning consents we expect customers to be able to use the existing facilities and slopes as normal throughout the winter."

Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, added: "Seeing the plans for this project demonstrates the real potential of Midlothian Snowsports Centre."

Plans for the scheme were submitted last month.

Image: Midlothian Council