A Charles Rennie Mackintosh visitor and education centre is to be established in Glasgow's city centre after the purchase of £2.3m in shop space by the Willow Tea Rooms Trust.

The Willow Tea Rooms Trust and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the umbrella body for voluntary organisations in Scotland, have bought more than 20,000 square feet of shop and office space next to the tea rooms - which are run by Anne Mulhern - in the city's Sauchiehall Street.

The acquisition will mean that the Willow Tea Rooms Trust will be able to set up the visitor and education centre.

They believe it will boost tourism and aid the regeneration of the street.

Celia Sinclair, founder of The Willow Tea Rooms Trust said: "When we bought the existing Willow Tea Rooms last year in order to upgrade it and restore it to its former glory, we already knew that to fulfil our vision, and for practicalities such as installing lift access, we would require additional space.

"We were interested in the adjoining buildings and they couldn't have come on the market at a better time.

"With SCVO's help we have a great opportunity to create something truly special and sustainable in Sauchiehall Street that will celebrate and safeguard Charles Rennie Mackintosh's legacy."

The SCVO will use much of the building to replicate its Brunswick House facility in Glasgow, which provides workspaces and offices to Scottish charitable organisations.

John Ferguson, director of development for the SCVO, said: "We are really proud to have been involved in saving this iconic piece of Glasgow's heritage and to see it in the hands of a charitable trust which will preserve it for the people of Glasgow and visitors from across the world to enjoy.

"SCVO also plans to create a charitable business centre within the building which will help charities and community groups in the city to work together to make an even bigger difference to the lives of people in Glasgow."

Funding of the acquisition has come from the Social Investment Scotland and Unity Trust Bank.

Alastair Davis, chief executive of Social Investment Scotland said: "As well as supporting the restoration of the Willow Tea Rooms, this investment will help create jobs, support tourism, and open up the world of Scottish artistry and architecture to a wider social demographic.

"Importantly, the Trust's ability to generate revenue from the retail outlet and rented commercial space next door will help to make it financially sustainable."

Gordon Allan, relationship manager at the Unity Bank Trust said he was delighted to be part of the collaborative effort to "restore this iconic heritage site."

The Willow Tea Rooms Trust was established by Celia Sinclair, a commercial property developer and trustee of the Glasgow Art Club, who is chair.

Trustees include Roger Billcliffe, an expert on Mackintosh and Efric McNeil, the new President of the Glasgow Art Club.