LOTHIAN East MP Douglas Alexander has enjoyed a visit to respite centre Leuchie House.

Mr Alexander, who had previously visited the charity, outside North Berwick, when he was an election candidate, met chief executive Mark Bevan.

They discussed Leuchie's role as a nationwide provider of respite which improves health, and provides independence and companionship for those living with a neurological condition, along with their family carers.

Mr Alexander said: "Leuchie House is a very important East Lothian-based charity and significant employer with positive impacts for people across all of Scotland and far beyond the county.

"It is a recognised and respected centre of excellence in its provision of vital respite care for families.

"It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to visit Leuchie again to meet the team and hear more about its future plans.

"Doing more to support the growing number of people living with a neurological condition is at the heart of those plans, and I look forward to supporting and promoting it.”

Mr Bevan said: "It was a pleasure to welcome Douglas back to Leuchie and seek his advice on our plans to do more, for more people.

"We discussed the growing impact of neurological conditions on the health of people across the UK, what we have learned from delivering 4,000 nights of respite each year and how this could be deployed to improve health, enable independence and reduce the cost of the NHS and social care across the UK.”