An "invaluable" set of architectural drawings has been donated to the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) to help with the restoration of its historic fire-damaged building.

The 22 drawings of the Mackintosh Building were made by Queensland University of Technology Professor George Cairns when he was studying for a PHD at the GSA in the early 1990s.

He has now brought the A1-size scale drawings over from Brisbane, Australia, and given them to the art school's archives and collections department.

Prof Cairns said: "I am delighted to be able to return to Glasgow after so many years and to be able to donate this set of drawings which I made as part of my doctoral thesis to the GSA.

"I hope very much that they will prove of interest and use to the teams working on the restoration of the Mack, and to generations of students who have the privilege to study Mackintosh's masterpiece."

As well as being used by the team working to restore the historic Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed building which went up in flames last year, the drawings will eventually be available as a resource for academics, students and the public.

Liz Davidson, senior project manager for the restoration project, said: "We are keen to continue to access as much information as possible about the building in planning our approach to the restoration.

"Professor Cairns' has already been generous in his time in liaising with the design team and these particularly detailed drawings are going to be an invaluable source of information."