Amey and Arup have won the £50m contract for the A96 dualling project, the Scottish Government has announced.

Work will begin next month on the programme, which will see a 26-mile stretch between Huntly and Aberdeen.

Cabinet secretary Keith Brown said: "We are fully committed to dualling the A96, some 86 miles of upgraded road between Inverness and Aberdeen, by 2030.

"The fact that four tenderers, including joint ventures, competed for this major contract is evidence of the interest in the market engendered by the infrastructure improvements this Government is delivering across the country including in the north.

"This major design contract marks a further milestone towards the dualling of the A96 with all the investment and improvements that it will bring to local economies right across the north of Scotland.

"Road users will not only enjoy the benefits of improved journey time and reliability, better connectivity between destinations but also, crucially, improved road safety for all those who use this key artery connecting two of Scotland's economic hubs."