New courses and training are set to benefit homeowners and building contractors across the Falkirk Council area.

Offered by Falkirk Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), the courses run between November 2016 and March 2017 are designed to help homeowners carry out basic maintenance tasks and help building contractors enhance existing professional skills.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland, the home owner courses are free of charge to attendees and the contractors training events are available at a heavily subsidised rate (in some cases up to 80%). Light refreshments will be provided for attendees.

Subjects covered by the courses include: roof maintenance; looking after exterior walls; general building repairs; using different types of mortars; traditional joinery skills and others. A bursary of up to £500 may also be available to contractors who qualify.

The courses are run at Falkirk Old Parish Church, Forth Valley College and the Scottish Lime Centre in Fife.

Councillor Dennis Goldie, Falkirk Council’s spokesperson for Economic Development said: “The courses will help local people learn how to look after traditional buildings and give local contractors the necessary skills to successfully work on traditional and historic buildings.

“The courses are open to anyone in the local area who feels they could benefit from learning more about these skills.”

Contractor courses must be booked in advance by visiting the event page or call 01324 614060. For more information on the Falkirk THI project visit their website.