Highlands and Islands Enterprise's Community Land Unit (CLU) has helped a youth project buy a restaurant to provide job and training opportunities.

A £40,000 grant enabled the Loft Youth Project (LYP) in Keith buy the 32-seat Craighurst's Restaurant in the Moray town's main street.

LYP plans to run the eating place as a commercial venture with social aims, employing four young people in its first year and providing training for four more. Produce will be sourced locally where possible.

Gill Dolphin, of LYP, said: "When Craighurst's came on the market it was an opportunity we felt we had to seize. We are delighted that with the assistance of the Community Land Unit we have been able to do it."

HIE chairman William Roe said the project was an inspirational example of social enterprise.

He added: "I am very pleased that we have been able to assist this imaginative and brave development of a project, which provides the possibility of contributing significant social and economic benefits to Keith."

Read more about the project in Network News - our online news magazine.