Community-run tea room forced to close its doors

A community-run tea room in one of Scotland's most southerly villages has been forced to close temporarily due to staffing and "technical issues".

St Ninian's Tea Room opened more than a decade ago in the Isle of Whithorn.

However, a statement from Isle Futures - the charity which runs it - confirmed it had made the "difficult decision" to close it with immediate effect due to "a combination of factors" outwith its control.

It said they were "working tirelessly" to find a way to reopen the facility - either fully or partially - "at the earliest opportunity".

A community shop on the same site will remain open and events are able to go ahead in its hall.

A "warm space" has also been set up in order to provide some "basic refreshments".

The facility was set up to help improve the "economic, social and environmental life" of the village, which is located about 22 miles (35km) south of Newton Stewart and has a population of about 270.

The hall was extended with the tea room and shop added thanks to a grant of nearly £1m from the Big Lottery Fund in 2013.

The expanded site opened the following year and employs a number of local people and, "wherever possible", sources its produce from the local area or wider Galloway.