A windmill thought to be Scotland's oldest is to be restored from ruin.

The B-listed Dysart Windmill in Fife, dates back 400 years is officially listed as "ruinous."

Now the landmark, which once sported sails, could be fitted with an internal spiral staircase and a glass-covered viewing platform with Fife Council funding.

The first step of the refurbishment to strip ivy and repoint the stonework will begin this week. The vaulted tower windmill was built in the 1650s, pre-dating a similar structure at St Monans by more than a century.

Fife Council archaeologist Douglas Spiers said he was confident funding could be secured for a proper refurbishment project.

He hopes a spiral staircase will be constructed within the windmill's interior and a viewing platform at the summit, possibly covered by a new glass dome.

He said: "The key to the future of the windmill is bringing it back into the consciousness of the community.

"It might take a year or two but elected members have displayed a lot of confidence in the project.

"A nearby school campus has been named after it and enthusiasts hope this will lead to Fife Council safeguarding the tower itself."

Fife councillor Kay Carrington it was an important piece of history.

She said: "It's a project that all of the local councillors believe is worthwhile.

"We have the new Windmill Community Campus opening in the summer and it would be great to have the windmill looking its best when that happens.

"It could be wonderful and bring visitors and tourists to the area."

The windmill was declared ruinous as early as 1854 and is thought to have ground its last ear of corn as much as 300 years ago.

According to the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland, it was converted to a lookout tower in the early 19th century.

The building came into council ownership in 1927 and was fitted with a searchlight and again used as a watchtower during the Second World War to assist in the hunt for German aircraft flying over the Forth.