Proposals to redevelop a historic Moray hospital have secured the backing of a MSP.
Forres-based Leanchoil was closed to patients more than a year ago by NHS Grampian after it was deemed financially sustainable.
Campaigners in the town have now embarked on a mission to take control of the Victorian building to try and revive it.
Armed forces charity Erskine has already shown interest in creating a veterans’ activity centre in the complex.
Now Moray MSP Richard Lochhead has backed the newly formed Leanchoil Trust’s vision to brink the buildings back into use.
He said: “If Erskine was to choose Leanchoil as their first base outside of the central belt for a veteran’s activity centre this would be superb for Forres and help boost the town’s profile and it would also be such a good fit with the needs of Moray given that we have a large veterans population.
“I will certainly be lending my support to the project and am speaking to NHS Grampian to press for a smooth and timely community asset transfer.
“I have also pledged to work with the trustees and community to see what can be done to secure funding for the site’s redevelopment.”
The Leanchoil Trust is currently in talks with the NHS about a community asset transfer of the site.
Trustee Major General Seymour Monro said: “Having Mr Lochhead visit, was a real boost to us as trustees and hearing his positive comments and his intention to support the project going forward will only go toward helping us on our way to developing a sensational hub for veterans and the community of Forres and beyond.”