KEITH BROWN is showing his support for the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund which is currently helping to restore the War Memorial in Tullibody.

The Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP attended a reception in the Scottish Parliament last Thursday to highlight the ongoing efforts from the War Memorials Trust.

The organisation is tasked with administering the restoration and so far has made grant offers of more than £528,000 to support conservation and repair works to 67 memorials across Scotland.

Its focus is to prepare local memorial sites to mark 100th anniversary of the end of hostilities in The Great War of 1914-1918.

Mr Brown said: “I am delighted that Tullibody War Memorial was able to benefit from this funding and I would encourage other communities across my constituency to apply for funding to ensure that local memorials are in the best possible condition in preparation for the commemorative events which will be so significant on 11th November 2018.”

Frances Moreton, director of the War Memorials Trust, added: “We are delighted to have seen so much interest in the repair and conservation of war memorials in Scotland.

"We know there are many more projects which could benefit from support and we encourage custodians across Scotland to get in touch to ensure the war memorials remembering the fallen of their local communities are fit for the centenary events and services which will culminate on 11th November 2018.”

The fund was set up by former First Minister Alex Salmond in January 2013 and is expected to make a total of £1million available for restoration works.

He said “I was delighted as first minister to support this scheme. It is important that communities all over Scotland have the ability to renovate their memorials.

"It is great that so many have responded to date and I look forward to seeing even more communities sign up in future.

"The greatest achievement of this scheme is that so many more memorials around Scotland are now in a condition that we would expect to respectfully commemorate the centenary of the sacrifice of those who fell in the Great War and conflicts thereafter.”