A £1.3m project will see the expanding village of Hill of Beath get a new nursery and community centre.

The facilities will see the current community centre, on the north eastern side of the village, demolished and replaced by a building which will house a much needed nursery for the growing village and the new community centre.

The 40 year-old building is in need of a lot of repair work and this investment by Fife Council will see it completely replaced.

The project will start later this year and it is hope to have the new facility open by the spring of 2019.

Local councillor Alex Campbell has been working closely with the the village's new community council on possible improvements in facilities for Hill of Beath which has the expanding Baxterfield housing estate expected to increase the population by around 600 over the two years.

He was delighted by the decision to go ahead with this exciting project: "Hill of Beath Primary School does not have the space for a new nursery and the community centre has been needing replaced for some time.

"So it is excellent to see the Children's Services and Community Education departments working together on this excellent project.

"As Hill of Beath continues to grow the need for expanded nursery accommodation will become very acute and of course the community centre has been showing signs of its age for some time.

"This integrated project, on a prime site in the village, is just what is needed to fill the gaps that exist in facilities provision."

He added: "It will be welcomed by the new community council that has been established and will give them a new base to work from as from next Easter."