Plans for further repair work and the development of new visitor facilities at Abbotsford House near Melrose, Scottish Borders, have been handed a £2.45m boost.

The funding - confirmed by Scottish culture minister Fiona Hyslop - will go towards the creation of a new visitor centre at the historic Category A-listed building, which is the former home of novelist Sir Walter Scott. Historic Scotland contributed £500,000 to help fund repairs at the house in 2009, and will provide a further £800,000 as part of the latest funding package. Scottish Enterprise will invest £650,000, while £1m has been approved by the Scottish Government.

Hyslop said: "Abbotsford's attraction to Scott's admirers' draws people from across the globe to the Scottish Borders, which in turn generates the local economy and tourism. "Scott's international reach for Scotland is enormous. There are so many reasons to appreciate this incredible home and what it represents to the Borders and Scotland as a whole."