AN octagonal church in Renfrewshire is set to be bought by the community.

The former Lochwinnoch Parish Church, a Grade A-listed building, will be purchased by Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust.

This follows a £233,300 grant from the Scottish Land Fund as part of plans to develop the building into a community hub with space for a range of services and activities.

The grant is amongst eight, totalling £829,692, that have been announced during this year’s Community Land Festival.

The Scottish Land Fund is financed by the Scottish Government and aims to help communities acquire and develop their assets.

Diarmid Harris, chair of Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust, said: "The award from the Scottish Land Fund will allow us to acquire the Lochwinnoch Parish Church, a beloved, iconic building in the heart of Lochwinnoch.

"The power of community ownership of our own cultural heritage, symbolised by the restoration and refurbishment of this building, will be a catalyst for local innovation, creativity and economic development in our village.

"LCDT believes that the revitalisation of this building will have a significant impact on Lochwinnoch for generations to come.”

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: "The Scottish Land Fund gives people an important say in the way that assets in their communities are run and used.

"The variety in the recipients in this round is really encouraging and I would like to congratulate all the groups behind the projects and wish them all the best as they take these forward."

Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, said: "The successful projects announced today across Scotland have all identified opportunities to help their local area to thrive and are great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities."