WORK to transform the former Clydesdale Bank building into a thriving market place on Ayr High Street has begun.

The plan is to create offices on the first floor leaving the ground floor empty for markets and entertainment in a bid to regenerate the town and bring it back to life.

Construction on the bottom floor has already started which was highlighted at the Alloway and Doonfoot Community Council meeting last Tuesday.

Cllr Bill Grant said: "We could have events like the ones in Edinburgh and Glasgow. There will be markets and entertainment. 

"We want to expand behind the property and encourage international markets as well as continue to run events such as Tam Fest and Burns and Aw That. 

"Our intention is to get the place full. I think there is means to prevent taxis from parking on the street."

Ayr Renaissance bought the former Clydesdale bank in March this year and plan to feature food and other business developments.

David Bell, Managing Director, Ayr Renaissance, previously said: "We are currently the proud owners of probably the biggest pigeon hole in Ayr. We have wanted this building for years and applied for it three years ago.

"We finally got the building in March this year and plan to re-furbish it. We want to turn it back into a market similar to one 'Meal Market' we saw in England which was bustling full of people.

"It is our aim to open up the ground floor and courtyard to create an indoor and outdoor market. If we get licensing for the upper floors of the building we could see 30-40 people in the building straight away.

"I think there will be a demand for this sort of thing."

It is hoped the new market will be up and running by 2017.