An arts centre and historic house in Arbroath has received more than £1.25m in funding to restore its gardens.

The rejuvenation of the gardens is part of a five-year plan to make Hospitalfield a visitor destination and a world class facility for the arts.

The centre has received a total of £626,300 from Creative Scotland, Historic and Environment Scotland, the Garfield Weston Foundation and other supporters, which has now been matched by The National Lottery.

The garden is being designed by Nigel Dunnett, whose brief is to create a garden that will tell 800 years of history.

The lead architects for the project, Caruso St John, won the RIAS's Stirling Award for the best building in the UK and this will be its first project in Scotland.

Director of Hospitalfield, Luct Byatt, said: ''After so much planning and focus on fundraising we are now ready to hit the ground running with this first stage of the capital project in early 2018 - this is very exciting for us all including the very loyal volunteers the Hospitalfield Garden Club."

Architect Peter St John said: "The rich red sandstone of Hospitalfield, and the deep green of its gardens, are a picture that I hope many more people will see and enjoy when these works are finished.

"Having visited many times, I realise that our work is about bringing back to life many beautiful things that already exist at Hospitalfield and recovering them for the present and the future."