A former clay quarry on the outskirts of Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, has been transformed into a new 'urban fringe' by the local authority.

South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) was awarded £300,000 from the Scottish Government's Vacant and Derelict Land fund to help carry out the work. The 27-hectare (66.7-acre) site includes footpaths and connections to the core path network and caters for walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders.

Improvements have also been carried out to the pond and woodland areas, while a detailed conservation and management plan has now been implemented. Chris Thompson, chair of SLC's enterprise resources committee, said: "A tremendous hidden beauty spot has been created at a spot which was in desperate need of regeneration on the edge of Blantyre."