By NIALL CHRISTIE

A LOCH Lomond tourist attraction has been awarded nearly £1million by the Scottish Government.

The Maid of the Loch, which currently resides in Balloch, will be given a full restoration as a result of the £950,00 of funding, as well as helping to create jobs and boost tourism in the area.

West Dunbartonshire Council Leader Jonathan McColl said: “This is a significant regeneration, job creation and tourism project that will deliver superb training opportunities, 30 full time jobs and increased footfall into Balloch.

“We hope to see an increase in tourism footfall of up to 95,000 visitors each year.”

Built by Glasgow shipbuilders A&J Inglis of Pointhouse, The Maid is the only known example left in Britain of an “Up and Doon” ship.

This means she was built and bolted together and launched right away in the shipyard before being disassembled and transported to her final destination of Loch Lomond.

The Maid of the Loch was given to the Loch Lomond Steamship Company in 1996 and this project is the culmination of 22 years of voluntary effort to get her sailing again

The company’s chairman, John Beveridge, said: “This is major milestone moment for the Maid of the Loch. It is absolutely wonderful news and a complete game changer for The Maid’s full restoration.

“This takes us significantly closer to reaching our £5.5 million target, but we still have a way to go.”

The award was part of the government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), with councils working alongside the Scottish Government to fund local projects.

The Maid’s restoration has also been supported by a number of other groups, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Enterprise and a recent crowdfunding campaign.

Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart said: “This is an example of how national and local government are working together on shared priorities that benefit communities.”