A Scottish council is offering interest-free loans to help owners of empty buildings redevelop them into affordable housing.

Perth and Kinross Council has launched its Empty Property Fund to provide loans of up to £15,000 as long as the owner agrees to rent or sell the property at an affordable level.

Kristen Hubert, National Manager for the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership said: "The launch of the Empty Property Loan Fund in Perth and Kinross is great news.

“The area already benefits from highly effective council support and this new fund will help bring even more empty property back into use as much needed homes.

“We are under no illusion that bringing empty properties back into use can solve the housing crisis, but with waiting lists across Scotland as large as they are, there is no excuse for not making every effort to make effective use of the property that already exists."

The funding can be used to repair or convert any property provided it has been empty for at least six months.

To date, the council has helped bring over 200 properties back into residential use across the Perth and Kinross area.