The cost to Edinburgh council tax-payers of creating a new Gaelic school in the city has soared by more than £1 million.

It has emerged that the city council will be forced to borrow £1.7m to transform the former Bonnington Primary into a Gaelic facility, a year after councillors were told the project would cost just £600,000.

The Scottish Government was originally going to contribute £1.4m, which would have met the bulk of the cost of converting the school. However, the costs soared as a result of vandalism and roof and water damage to the empty building, meaning the project is now priced at £3.5m.

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