Restoration plans have been submitted for a former surface coal mine in East Ayrshire.

The Spireslack site has remained derelict since 2013, when former operator Scottish Coal went into administration.

Family-owned employer Banks Mining has since submitted a restoration proposal to redesign the site for future use by reshaping Spireslack's steep sided mounds, sharp gradients and wide terraces.

The company hopes to begin working on the site after it completes the restoration of the neighbouring Ponesk surface mine.

Jim Donnelly, operations director at Banks Mining, said: "Unfortunately, a lack of funding precludes a complete restoration but, similar to Ponesk, we have designed a scheme to provide maximum improvements from the limited resource available.

"It would also allow us to offer continued employment, as we would look to deploy the team of around 15 highly skilled and experienced restoration experts that have worked hard to transform conditions at Ponesk - while drawing plaudits for their methods of working."