Teenager and nonagenarian sisters given honour of cutting the sod at groundbreaking ceremony for Dornoch's new Heritage Hub

Dornoch museum Historylinks held a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony on Monday in advance of work starting on its 'Heritage Hub' extension.

Isla Swanson (16), a volunteer at the museum and member of its Young Curators Club, was given the honour of cutting the first sod along with sisters Christina Gill (93), Embo, and Bella Winning (91), Dornoch.

Contractors GMR Henderson are to start work at the site, to the rear of the museum next Monday, November 6.

Historylinks has sourced a package of funding to pay for the new building with a major portion (£249,431) pledged by the National Lottery Fund.

However, managers were able to announce a start date after recently raising £25,000 in a fortnight to help outfit the hub and demonstrate to the Heritage Lottery that the project could be completed.

Alison Davies, of Historylinks, said: "The generosity of so many donors to the projects means that our total funds raised to date are £587,370 and we have been able to set a start date. The new extension will be completed and ready for fitting out in April next year and we plan an official opening in late summer."

The museum is now closed for the winter.

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