VISITORS to Portrush will see the results of a major multi-million pound revamp of the Co Antrim seaside town.
A £17 million regeneration programme has been carried out in the resort ahead of The Open golf championship, with roads resurfaced, new granite pavements installed and a massive refurbishment of the train station completed earlier this month.
With just weeks to go before The Open begins, the last touches are being put in place to ensure Portrush is looking its very best.
A public realm investment scheme has been carried out to enhance the town's appeal, while derelict and vacant properties brought back into use.
Lighting columns, embellished railings, benches and picnic tables have all been constructed in the resort after funding was received from the Department for Communities.
Earlier this month, the £5.6 million refurbishment of Portrush Train Station was finished, in time for the upcoming 148th Open.
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Three platforms were upgraded, with the facility now able to accommodate six-car trains, providing increased capacity as the town prepares to welcome thousands of visitors.
Enhanced passenger information and a new public address system was also installed as well as increased cycle storage space.
Jonny Kerr, from building contractor Graham, said there would be "lasting impact" for residents and visitors of Portrush and the wider north coast for many years to come.
In recent months, community and voluntary groups were also able to avail of grants from The Open Legacy Fund, which aims to leave a long-lasting positive impact in Portrush.
Around £100,000 was up for grabs for projects and initiatives to benefit residents in the seaside town with the money provided by golf's ruling authority, The R&A, as an acknowledgement of the role played by local communities during The Open.
Former mayor Brenda Chivers, who launched the scheme, said the fund represented a "unique opportunity for Portrush to deliver a sustainable legacy which will benefit the wider community".
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director at The R&A, said: "We fully recognise the vital role that the local environment and communities play in the successful staging of The Open, and we are committed to leaving a positive and lasting legacy for the venues we go to each year".
He said he hoped the money would "positively enhance the town of Portrush and provide benefits for its residents to enjoy in the years to come".
