Part of a fire-ravaged village church will be torn down next week as crews roll in to prevent the total collapse of the building.
West Church at Hatton has been fenced off since it was destroyed in a blaze last month.
Now Aberdeenshire Council has announced that the demolition of its bell tower and gable will begin on Monday.
The Main Street in Hatton could be closed for up to two weeks to allow contractors to safely carry out the work.
An alternative route will be available via Station Road onto the A90 southbound to the junction at Toll of Birness, the A952 north to the junction with C72B and onto Main Street.
Pedestrian access will be maintained, as will vehicular access to affected properties where possible.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman said: “The building’s bell tower and gable are to be reduced in height with the works due to begin next week.
“It is estimated that these works will take several days to complete. Once the building has been made safe in line with advice from Building Standards, the road will be reopened.
“If the works proceed without complication, the road could reopen before Friday, March 20.”
Some 35 firefighters fought the blaze on the morning of February 18 while distraught locals gathered along a police cordon.
There were gasps as the slated roof collapsed, and again when the bell crashed through two floors and into the tower doorway.
The 130-year-old church has been fenced off to the public since the fire amid fears it could collapse.
Last night, Peterhead councillor Stuart Pratt said there was still a feeling of sadness in the community about the loss.
“Obviously, it was quite a shock,” he said.
The first stone in the foundations of the West Church was laid by the Annie Murdoch, grandmother of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and the building was completed in 1884.
Although the church had been closed for almost a decade and had been put up for sale by the Church of Scotland, firefighters on the scene revealed power cables to the structure were still live.
Last night a spokeswoman for the police said a joint investigation with the fire service into the cause of the blaze was still underway.
“Inquiries are still ongoing and no one has been charged,” she said