PLANS for the ambitious redevelopment of an Ayrshire were unveiled today and the blueprint was inspired by Glasgow's Merchant City.

Councillors and enterprise chiefs want to spend £300million on a new-look Ayr town centre and will bid for Heritage Lottery cash and common-good funds.

A regeneration action plan includes a scheme to rebuild Burns Statue Square and create a public plaza, hotels, shopping centres and new housing.

It is hope that cafes, bistros and streetscapes will mirror those in the Merchant City, giving Ayr a modern edge.

But planners are also keen to retain Ayr's historic character.

For decades Glaswegians have flocked to Ayr in summer, lured by its beach and promenade.

The town - described in the Burns poem Tam O'Shanter as "the town of honest men and bonnie lasses" - already boasts a host of tourist attractions including a racecourse and nearby Culzean Castle and Burns' Cottage.

A four-storey hotel and conference centre is also planned and it's thought the town bus station could be incorporated into the railway station.

South Ayrshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire have teamed up to push the project forward.

Councillor Gibson Macdonald leader of South Ayrshire Council said: "This is not a question of a makeover, a lick of paint, or the renovation of some buildings.

"This is radical thinking. The town clearly needs a wake-up call.

"We are in the 21st century and Ayr has to be brought up to date.

"This plan is both practical and imaginative. Standing still is not an option."

Michael Wright of Scottish Enterprise said Ayr could help kickstart the rebirth of Ayrshire and indeed Scotland as a whole.

He said: "The town centre and seafront has a pivotal role to play in growing Ayrshire's tourism economy by supporting the world-class attractions we have in golf, Burns, and the Clyde coast.

"The growth of Prestwick Airport has already had a very positive impact on visitor numbers and it is essential we capitalise on this opportunity."

wendy.miller@eveningtimes.co.uk