Nicola Benedetti's castle overture

CELEBRATED violinist Nicola Benedetti was in her home county of Ayrshire yesterday to open the newly renovated Portencross Castle, at a special ceremony marking the completion of a 12-year conservation project at the building.

The work ensures the 14th-century Clyde Coast landmark is fully accessible to visitors for the first time in its 650-year history.

Alastair Glen, chairman of Friends of Portencross Castle, thanked supporters and organisations who donated funds. "We equally thank the architects and contractors whose design, ingenuity and determination delivered the useable building we see today," he said. "A bonus has been the understanding of the building and its history which is captured in displays inside".

The total project costs were just over 1 million, which included costs of teaching materials for schools and a website.