Work is underway to transform one of the north-east’s most cherished visitor centres into a five-star attraction.
The Grampian Transport Museum (GTM) in Alford was given the go-ahead to progress with the construction of a vital new upgrade to its entrance and visitor centre earlier this year.
The plans include modernising and expanding the building’s front end, with an educational space, display area and cafe built inside.
The £320,000 project was given a £70,000 boost by Holyrood’s department for culture, Europe and external affairs earlier this year, alongside advanced funding from Aberdeenshire Council.
Local councillors agreed to hand over two years worth of funding, amounting to £45,000, which has allowed the GTM team to get going with the work in time for their 2016 season, which starts in April.
Construction is now underway with Aberdeen-based Anderson Construction at the helm.
VisitScotland has pledged to promote the museum to a five-star facility if the front entrance is redeveloped.
Curator of the museum, Mike Ward, said he hoped the winter weather would not stall the work.
He added: “It is exciting for us. We are seriously looking forward to it being built.
“It represents a lot from the museum because for years our visitors have been telling us that the surviving reception at the minute is not that exciting.
“What we are building there will really play the part for the first time. There will be much more of a sense of anticipation.
“We are really looking forward to it. It means we’ll be able to make it a much better visitor experience, and that is what we are all about really.”
Mr Ward hopes the renovation will open the venue up to the wider public.
“We are providing a whole range of services and activities that many visitors don’t really see, we are going to showcase everything it does there for the first time,” he said.
“The builders are doing really well. It is all good to be finished in the middle of February.”
The museum attracts thousands of visitors every year to a huge range of events celebrating cars, motorcycles and all other types of motor vehicles from history.