THE High Street of Alloa will be enriched by authentic tastes of Syria as refugees opened the doors to a restaurant last week.

The new business, Syriana, recently moved into a vacant unit at the top of the shopping stretch and is ready to receive customers following refurbishment.

Owners, including Yasser Kanaan, said they were keen to get busy in the kitchen and start rebuilding their lives, having fled the chaos of their war-torn home country.

They are bringing authentic food to the Wee County, much of what is on offer is vegetarian, healthy and all homemade.

Syrian cuisine is similar to other Middle Eastern ones, with aromas of cumin and olive oil used throughout.

Staff said they were hoping to provide a great service and that Scottish people will enjoy the unique food on offer.

Typical ingredients of modern-day Syrian cuisine include aubergines, zucchini, garlic, sesame seeds, chickpeas, fava beans, lentils and more; if there is meat it is often lamb or sheep.

Syriana is the third business in the town centre of Alloa to be launched by refugees.

Earlier in February, a barber shop was opened on the High Street by Mohamad Alwan and Neehad Othman, just a year and a half after arriving in Clackmannanshire.

And then in April, the doors to Alwen Cakes opened on Maple Court with the patisserie offering tasty treats and coffee to locals.