Dobbies Garden Centre in Ayr has helped raise more than £4,200 for Alzheimer’s Research UK as part of a national partnership that has brought in £235,000 in its first year. The fundraising total was announced as Dobbies Garden Centres marked the first year of its partnership with the dementia research charity, which launched in March 2025. Ayr store customers and staff contributed £4,213 to the overall figure through a range of in-store and community fundraising efforts. Dobb

Stagecoach South Scotland has been shortlisted in two categories at this year’s Scottish Transport Awards, earning national recognition for its work in sustainable transport and customer marketing. The operator has been named a finalist in the Contribution to Sustainable Transport category, reflecting its role in delivering one of Scotland’s most ambitious electric bus programmes. It has also been shortlisted for Excellence in Travel Information and Marketing for its Service

North Ayrshire Council’s Ranger Service and country park staff have shared their disappointment following the discovery of significant damage caused by illegal, off-road vehicle usage at Eglinton Country Park. Taking place during the Easter weekend, the park's busiest weekend of the year for families to visit, several locations have been affected with water pooling and tyre marks now prominent in key areas including the perimeter lawn of Eglinton Castle and land adjacent to t

The Music Service has showcased the talent and dedication of children and young people across East Ayrshire during March - a month of incredible energy, achievement, and musical celebration. Throughout the month, over 900 pupils took part in Benedetti Foundation classroom workshops, bringing world-class musical inspiration directly into schools. These engaging sessions ignited creativity, built confidence, and offered pupils the chance to experience music-making on a whole ne

Ayrshire-based Land Energy has been named winner of the Business Excellence Award at the 2026 Ayrshire Chamber Annual Dinner. The award, sponsored by Donnini Apartments, LMA Architects, Prestwick Aerosystems and UKSE, recognises the company’s commitment to strong performance through the alignment of strategy, people and processes, while continuing to deliver value for customers, stakeholders and wider society. Land Energy communications officer David Bone said the business wa

A new family-run sweet shop has opened on the Brodick beachfront, bringing a mix of nostalgia and modern treats to the Isle of Arran. The Sweet Spot has been launched by local business owners Vik and Daniel Steel, who are also known for running the Isle of Arran Candle Company. The new venture has been created as a true family project, inspired by their daughters Lily, 10, and Evie, 15. Lily came up with the shop’s name, while Evie designed the logo, with the whole family hel

Officers are appealing for information following an attempted murder in Ayr. The incident happened within a property on Mill Street around 4.15pm on Saturday, 4 April, 2026, when a 34-year-old man was stabbed. He was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for treatment. Detective Sergeant Davie Gillies, of Ayr CID, said: “The victim sustained serious injuries during this incident so we are urgently appealing to anyone with any information that could assist ou

One of Galston’s most prominent buildings has been brought back into public use, following a £3.45m restoration project undertaken by East Ayrshire Council. The new Galston Town Hall will officially open its doors to the public on Wednesday 8 April 2026, offering a new location for the public library, and a skills and learning hub to enhance further the Council’s commitment to giving local people the skills to learn and work. The refurbishment officially got underway in Janu

Pupils from Pennyburn Primary were treated to a memorable day out with a special visit to The Killie Community Hub and Rugby Park. The North Ayrshire youngsters began their trip with a tour of the hub, where they learned more about the wide range of work carried out by The Killie Community and the support it provides across the local area. They then headed to Rugby Park for an exciting behind-the-scenes look around the famous stadium, giving pupils the chance to experience on

Cecchini’s of Ayr has embraced the Easter season in eye-catching style this year, with the well-known venue transformed by a stunning display of spring colours, floral touches and charming bunny-themed decorations. The restaurant has created a warm and cheerful Easter look both inside and out, with pastel-coloured eggs, garlands and seasonal features giving the venue a bright and welcoming feel. From the decorated exterior to the carefully styled interior tables and seating a

An 88-year-old woman has died following a collision in Largs on Wednesday, 1 April, 2026. Around 10.05am, the female pedestrian was crossing Main Street when she was struck by an HGV being driven by a 51-year-old man. Emergency services attended but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Sergeant Gordon Stewart said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the woman who died. “Our enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing. “We urge anyone who witnessed the c

A multi award-winning mobile chip van has called for a review of a North Ayrshire Council licensing rule which it says is making it difficult to trade safely and effectively. Photo: Ayrshire Daily News Joanna’s Chippy Van, which serves communities across Ayrshire, has been in contact with the local authority regarding a condition attached to its itinerant licence. The rule restricts traders to a maximum of 20 minutes at any one location before they must move on. Owner Calum K

Plans to introduce a seasonal entry fee for visitors to Ayr’s beachfront have sparked widespread discussion ahead of the busy summer period. The proposal, which is understood to be under early consideration, would see a managed section of the beach introduced during peak months, with controlled access in place. Under the suggested model, visitors could pay £5 per adult, £2 per child under 16, or £10 for a family ticket covering two adults and two children for the day. Local r

A member of the Hydro Health Club at Seamill Hydro has raised more than £1,500 for charity after completing a deeply personal fitness challenge. Wendy Spencer successfully raised £1,503 for the British Heart Foundation after taking on her “Heartversary 26/26” challenge throughout the month of March. The initiative saw her walk and swim a combined total of 26 miles in recognition of two significant milestones within her family. The challenge marked 10 years since her daughter

South Ayrshire Council's Ranger Service recently launched a brand-new nature focussed project at an event held on the day of 'Earth Hour' at Ayr Town Hall. The new project, known as 'Stepping Stones', celebrates the inspiring ways local people have undertaken various nature focussed projects to create greenspaces that help facilitate ecological connectivity. The project aims to inform people of what's happening in the local area and offers those who want to join in and help s

A leading figure in Troon’s musical and community life has been recognised for decades of dedication, as Pipe Major Christopher Bone of the 1st Troon Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band has been named Civic Award Winner and Citizen of the Year for 2026. Troon Community Council announced the honour in recognition of Chris’s outstanding contribution to both the band and the wider community, following more than 30 years at the helm as Pipe Major. Under his leadership, the band has grown int

Talented young musicians from across North Ayrshire were celebrating an exceptional weekend of musical achievement. North Ayrshire Music Service celebrated a landmark success with ensembles excelling at both the Ayrshire Music Festival and the Scottish Concert Band Finals in Perth. Ayrshire Music Festival’s Ensemble Day Over 200 pupils from across the three Ayrshires took part, with North Ayrshire ensembles delivering standout performances. The Junior String Ensemble impresse

At a Council meeting on Thursday 26 March, Councillors agreed to progress three major projects using funding from the Prestwick Capital Regeneration budget. Following the commitment made in 2024 of £2million for regeneration investment within Prestwick, South Ayrshire Council engaged with Prestwick Civic Pride, stakeholders, and the public to identify key project strands for allocation of funding. As a result of this consultation, £1million has been budgeted to fund impro

Plans to transform Burns Statue Square into a modern, welcoming gateway to Ayr town centre are moving forward, with the public set to play a key role in shaping its future. South Ayrshire Council has confirmed that ambitious proposals are being developed to redesign one of the town’s most recognisable spaces, shifting it away from its current traffic-dominated layout towards a people-focused civic square. The project, backed by £16 million from the UK Government’s Levelling U

Gas network company SGN is investing £2m to upgrade the gas network in Ayr to ensure local homes and businesses continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply. The project involves replacing old metal mains, reaching the end of their useful lives, with new plastic pipe which has a lifespan of around 80 years. This will help ensure local homes and businesses continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply long into the future. Following close consultation with South