East Ayrshire Council’s annual garden competition recognises the top amateur gardeners from across East Ayrshire. A special award ceremony, sponsored by Tivoli Group Ltd and Gemmells Garden Centre, was held recently at the Council’s headquarters in Kilmarnock. The award ceremony was officially opened by Councillor Jim McMahon, Spokesperson for Housing, Transport and Communities, and the awards were presented by Councillor McMahon and Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Cou

MSP Siobhian Brown has stepped in following growing concern over the future of AquaSharks Swim School, which is facing possible closure after losing access to the pools it uses at Sundrum Castle and Sandylands holiday parks. The popular swim school, which teaches around 500 swimmers each week — including hundreds of children with additional support needs — is set to lose its venues next month after Parkdean Resorts confirmed the pools would not remain open during the winter m

Barassie Primary School has celebrated the launch of a brand-new children’s picture book created in partnership with local author Lorraine Johnston. The book, titled Who or What is Frooglesprot?, was officially launched on Friday 24th October at a special event held in the school’s library. Lorraine worked closely with both staff and pupils to bring the project to life, providing story guidance and illustration notes to the school’s Primary 7 class, who produced all the origi

As Halloween approaches, I’ve been rummaging through my usual collection of fancy-dress costumes, everything from the classics to the downright bizarre. One in particular always makes me smile: a shiny robot suit. But then there’s my showstopper, a 9-foot inflatable Frankenstein, (Big Frankie) as he is affectionately known as that someone straps themselves into, towering over crowds and turning heads wherever it goes. Standing there, staring at those costumes, I found myself

A 40-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the robbery of an 83-year-old woman in her home in Bonnyton, Kilmarnock. Around 1pm on Thursday, 23 October, 2025, a man presented at the woman's door then entered and stole her purse and phone. The woman was injured but did not require hospital treatment. The 40-year-old man is due to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff court on Tuesday, 28 October, 2025 Detective Sergeant Keith Hyndes said: "We’d like to thank the

Community councils in the Garnock Valley are calling on local residents to step forward and represent their towns and villages ahead of the fast-approaching election deadline. Kilbirnie and Glengarnock Community Council – covering the town of Kilbirnie and the village of Glengarnock – and Beith and District Community Council – representing Beith along with Gateside and Barrmill – are set to hold their Ordinary Elections in line with the Scheme for the Establishment of Communi

The Citadel Leisure Centre in Ayr has received a major facelift as part of its exciting refurbishment programme. Image - South Ayrshire Council The construction of the centre's brand-new entrance façade was completed earlier this month (October 2025). South Ayrshire Council has worked with delivery partners Alliance Leisure and Robertson Construction Central West to deliver a modern, visually striking exterior at the busy facility. Works included curtain walling glazing, a ne

A unique approach to forging a new future for three North Ayrshire towns has picked up a special national award. Beith, Dalry and Kilbirnie are thought to be the first linked towns in Scotland to create a local place plan for a cluster of communities, rather than each working in isolation. The result of that work - the Our Garnock Valley vision - has been described by the community alliance leading it as “next generation regeneration”. And the trail that it could lead for ot

Irvine Carer Struck Off After Assaulting Vulnerable Dementia Patients An Irvine care worker has been permanently struck off after being found guilty of assaulting elderly residents living with dementia. Margaret Cavin, who worked as a care assistant in a local care home, was removed from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) register following a series of incidents described as “deeply distressing” and “wholly unacceptable.” Investigations found that during one incident

Detectives are appealing for information following a robbery at a shop in Cumnock earlier this week. Photo: Google Maps The incident happened around 2.40pm on Monday, 20 October, 2025, when a man entered the 123 ABC shop on Hamilton Place, threatened a member of staff with a knife, and demanded money. He made off with a three-figure sum of cash. The male staff member was left badly shaken but uninjured. The suspect is described as white, around 5ft 10ins tall and of slim buil

A Kilmarnock-based organisation that tackles health and social inequalities across Ayrshire has been named Charity of the Year at the Ayrshire Business Awards. The Killie Community team with their trophy for Charity of the Year The Killie Community, the charitable arm of Kilmarnock Football Club, received the accolade at the annual event organised by the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, standing out among a host of leading charities from across the region. Head of charity Jodan

Police in Ayrshire are appealing for help from the public to trace 62-year-old Dorothy Summers, who has been reported missing from her home in Ayr. Image: Police Scotland Ayrshire Dorothy was last seen in the Whitletts area around 9am on Thursday, 23 October 2025. She is described as white, 5ft 1ins tall, of medium build, with long, curly brown and grey hair. Inspector Lorraine Scobie said: “It is completely out of character for Dorothy to be away from home and not keep in re

A star of BBC’s The Apprentice will swap the boardroom for the ballroom when he visits Ayrshire next year for one of the region’s most prestigious business events. Mike Soutar, best known as one of Lord Sugar’s trusted advisers who grills candidates during the hit show’s interview stage, will be the guest speaker at the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner. The event, set to take place at Trump Turnberry Resort on Friday, March 27, will bring together up to 500 business

More than 230 people were screened for heart conditions at an event hosted earlier this month by the South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the Pumping Marvellous Foundation. A team of experienced medical and nursing staff provided free screening from 10am until 3pm at Girvan Community Hospital. Staff from Pumping Marvellous, the largest patient-led heart failure charity in the UK, was also on hand for information and advice. Throughout th

A patient at University Hospital Crosshouse was able to see her son marry in a heartwarming ceremony arranged by dedicated hospital staff. Photo: NHS Ayrshire & Arran Carol, from North Ayrshire, who was receiving care on the hospital’s gynaecology ward while in the later stages of cancer, watched proudly as her son James, 38, and his partner Shoni, 30, from South Ayrshire, exchanged vows in an emotional ceremony held on the ward last month. The couple had originally planned t

The Ayrshire Small Scale Tree Planting Programme is continuing through 2025/26, with grants of up to £1,000 available for planting native trees in South and East Ayrshire within the UNESCO Biosphere region.   Hosted by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership and backed by funding from South Ayrshire Council, Scottish Forestry, the Woodland Trust and Land Energy, the scheme is now in its third season and has seen the planting of over 2700 trees since its launc

Could your dog be a lifesaver? Pet Blood Bank UK is currently appealing for dogs in Ayr to come forward as blood donors to help save the lives of other dogs. Dalblair Vets in Ayr is one of the charity’s host venues and they are looking for happy, healthy, and confident dogs to register for their donation sessions.   Pet Blood Bank is just like the human blood service, but for dogs. They collect blood donations from donor dogs across the UK which then go towards helping to sav

Local business, Beau Beau Boutique , has announced its closure, marking the end of a remarkable chapter for a shop that brought style, confidence, and smiles to so many across Ayrshire and beyond. Photo: Ayrshire Daily News (ADN) The boutique, which opened in November 2016 , was the lifelong dream of Victoria , whose passion was to create a warm and memorable shopping experience for girls searching for their perfect prom dress. Over the years, Beau Beau became a household nam

Kiltwalk 2026 Officially Open for Registration Step Up for Charity! Ayrshire fundraisers, dust off those walking shoes Kiltwalk 2026 is officially open for registration! Scotland’s biggest charity walking event is back, inviting people across the country to lace up and take part in a year of unforgettable community spirit, fundraising, and fun, all while supporting local causes that make a real difference. Participants can once again choose from a range of walking distances,

Miller Homes is helping make the streets of Beith safer for children this autumn as it celebrates six years of its Home Safeinitiative in the West of Scotland. In recognition of International Walk to School Month (October), the homebuilder has donated a high-visibility vest to all 308 pupils at Beith Primary School to help keep them visible on their journeys.   Since launching Home Safe in 2019, Miller Homes has worked with local schools across the West of Scotland, donating