MORE than £9,000 is being spent to restore Ormiston’s War Memorial.

The money from the latest round of funding from the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund will be used to repair and conserve the memorial.

A total of £9,130 will be spent restoring the village’s war memorial, which is located on Main Street.

Jim Blane, chairman of Ormiston Community Council, said work on the monument would be complete within a matter of days.

Work has been ongoing for a number of weeks and was put on hold for the village’s Remembrance Day procession.

Mr Blane added: “The job is started – it really is a beautiful monument.” The money is part of a £1 million fund set up by the Scottish Government to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First World War.

Already, more than £300,000 has been distributed to 43 war memorials across the country.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Scotland’s war memorials are a lasting tribute to our fallen servicemen and servicewomen who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending our country in the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts.” He said each memorial reminded people of the “futility of war” and the losses endured by local communities.

Mr Salmond added: “It is extremely heartening to learn that communities are benefiting from this fund to upgrade memorials, particularly as this year marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War and the start of our commemorations for years to come.”