A 50-turbine wind farm in East Ayrshire and Galloway has been given the green light by the Scottish Government.

In August 2013, the Swedish energy group Vattenfall submitted a planning application for the site near Dalmellington, Patna, New Cumnock and Carsphairn.

The company can now discuss buying a share of the wind farm with local communities.

As well as offering the East Ayrshire and North Galloway communities a right to acquire an interest of up to 5% in the multi-million pound scheme, Vattenfall will also provides a community benefit fund of £5000 per megawatt (MW) installed per year over the operational lifetime of the wind farm.

Already over 150 local businesses have registered their interest in the South Kyle Wind Farm.

Vattenfall's UK head of development for onshore wind, Guy Mortimer said: "This decision is good news for Scotland's climate change targets and for local people and businesses.

"Of course there is a long way to go before Vattenfall is able to construct and operate this wind farm but, if constructed, this will be a wind farm that we hope local people and businesses will take pride in."

He added: "The Scottish Government's consent decision for this scheme is reassuringly robust.

"The wind farm proposal was scrutinised and carefully considered through a detailed public local inquiry in late 2015.

"As a result, this consent is a clear evidence-based decision that concludes South Kyle is an eminently acceptable proposal."