ANIMAL lovers gathered to open a unique hide in Lochwinnoch which will allow visitors from far and wide to gaze upon an array of wildlife.

The structure at the RSPB Scotland centre was built by volunteers and designed by students from the University of Strathclyde.

With no doors or windows to open and shut, the hide has a unique open layout to cut down on potential disturbance to animals.

Politicians and community leaders joined residents for the opening ceremony, where they celebrated the achievements of everyone involved.

Tabby Lamont, RSPB Scotland site manager at Lochwinnoch, said: “It’s great to have the new hide open for visitors and I hope loads of people will come to peek out at the wildlife.

“It’s a testimony to our wonderful volunteers, many of whom have been involved with working on this project, but I’d like to thank Frank Turbet and Tom Maxwell in particular, who’ve put in many hours constructing the hide.”

The hide is close to the main visitor centre and will be an ideal place for people to watch birds such as ducks, swans and herons.

The larch wood for the structure came from the Wood of Cree in Dumfries and Galloway, another RSPB reserve, after a large area of trees had to be felled due to a spreading fungal disease.

Mr Turbet said: “It has been a pleasure to work on building the new hide, due to its imaginative design and the high quality of supplied construction materials.”