A FOURTEENTH century castle rescued from ruin by a Glasgow couple has been transformed into a luxury hotel and wedding venue.

Steve Reid-Timoney and his wife Alison have invested £9 million restoring Crossbasket Castle in Blantyre to its former glory.

The couple bought the castle in 2011, a year after it was listed on Scotland’s Buildings At Risk Register.

They have added a grand ballroom and filled all nine of the bedrooms with authentic period furniture and finishings.

Alison, who designed the interiors, said: "My husband and I have a passion for restoring old buildings and first spotted Crossbasket Castle more than a decade ago.

"When we purchased it vandals had damaged the roof and interiors, it was leaking water and the walls were starting to deteriorate.

"Since then we have painstakingly restored it with a focus on using craftsmen to reinstate original features."

The couple have teamed up with Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI) to re-open the castle as a luxury hotel.

The company has also worked with Andy Murray’s multi award-winning Cromlix Hotel, the Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course near Kelso and Fasque Castle near Aberdeen.

ICMI manages 12 independent properties around Scotland, including Inverlochy Castle, near Fort William and, Greywalls Hotel in Gullane and Rocpool Reserve in Inverness.

The company's group of industry experts includes Albert Roux, owner of Le Gavroche in London, the first UK restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars.

Norbert Lieder, ICMI’s managing director, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Timoneys on this very exciting project. Alison has done a fantastic job of the restoration – her attention to detail and sympathetic restoration are first class.

“I am confident that, with the Timoneys, we can create a very special hotel that is unique in the Glasgow area."

Crossbasket Castle is scheduled to open in spring 2016. An open day, featuring dishes crafted by Albert Roux, will take place on December 21 from 10am until 6pm.