Medieval abbey could be taken over by community

Fearn Abbey was established in the 13th Century

An Easter Ross community has been awarded funding to explore the possibility of buying Fearn Abbey.

Nicknamed the Lamp of the North, the church near Hill of Fearn was founded in the 13th Century by a religious order known as Premonstratensians.

Its owners today, the Church of Scotland, has been trying to reduce the number of buildings it looks after and stopped holding services in the abbey last year.

Fearn Amenities has been given a grant of £20,000 from UK and Scottish government funds to help it plan for a potential community asset transfer.