WORK to make headstones in a Sanquhar churchyard safe is set to be completed by the end of the year after the green light was given for workers to return to the site.

The safety work in the graveyard at St Bride's Parish Church was put on hold two years ago – but will restart soon after councillors agreed to grant listed building consent.

The application for work in the churchyard – which, along with the church itself, is classed as a Category B listed building – was given the green light last week by the planning applications committee at Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC).

A background report for the committee's meeting on October 12 said: "Works at Sanquhar is only partly complete as work was paused in October 2020 as a result of issues raised during work at Sanquhar cemetery and by the programme of works being impacted by Covid-19.

"Works will now be scheduled for completion by the end of 2022."

The report says Sanquhar Community Council raised concern at lack of communication from DGC over the work, but did not object to the work itself.