THE success of Lochgelly in winning Scotland's Most Improved Town Award was celebrated by Fife Council with a special civic reception for the people who played major roles in making the accolade possible.

The Lochgelly Development Forum, the town's community council along with representatives of Ore Valley Housing Association, were guests of the council at the event held at Kirkcaldy Town House.

Also guests were the local authority's Hazel Cross, who was involved in the project from start to finish; and Margaret King, who has assisted the Development Forum throughout their many projects along with Mike Payne.

Provost Leishman said: "Lochgelly winning the SURF award for being named Scotland's Most Improved Town was a magnificent achievement and comes only three years after it was nominated for the unfortunate carbuncle title.

"That did not put off the hard working people of the Development Forum, Ore Valley and the council's own staff in helping turn things around.

"Being a Lochgelly boy it made me feel really proud."

The Forum's Eileen McKenna, Helen Ross and Christine McGrath, were hurt when the town was nominated for the carbuncle award, but they have continued to prompt from behind the scenes to see improvements take place.

The past three years has seen the former library gone in East Main Street and 16 new homes go up with the iconic town house as part of the project, while the Ore Valley project to create business units below homes in the Main Street has greatly improved that part of the town.

Meanwhile work to create an indoor rock climbing base out of the former St Andrews Church building is making good progress while a new revolutionary cycle track is now under construction behind Lochgelly High School.

Said Forum chair Eileen McKenna: "The SURF award was great boost to everyone in the town but this Civic Reception was a real surprise.

"Ore Valley have been a real driving force in the improvements in the town as have been the council, and Hazel Cross has been a strong guide to making all the right positive things happen."

Helen Ross commented: "The improvements that have taken place have been remarkable and everyone involved deserves the utmost praise.

"Now we have the Mining Heritage Centre project on the horizon which is something which will take things to the next stage."

The Forum has played a strong role in keeping things positive in the town even when the carbuncle title was being banded about with their organisation of the town gala, the extensive festive lighting and highly successful community shop in Bank Street, and secretary Christine McGrath said: "The community shop has been a gold mine in raising funds for things like the gala and festive lights and now that we are looking ahead to the Mining Heritage project it really is all a positive message."

The Lochgelly Heritage Trail is set to be launched over the next few weeks linking the Nellie and Jenny Gray collieries rail line with story boards telling how Lochgelly was built on the black diamonds.