SECURING major funding is kids' stuff for historians at Thirlestane Castle.

Trustees of the Lauderdale castle have been awarded £40,000 from Museums Galleries Scotland to help relocate two important collections - including an extremely rare collection of toys from down the centuries.

Visitors to the 16th century attraction will now be able to view both the the Historic Toy Collection and the Museum Development Fund in new settings within the castle.

Trustee Edward Maitland-Carew is delighted with the Museum Development Fund cash.

He said: "We’re absolutely thrilled to have received this funding from Museums Galleries Scotland.

"This money will help us to carry out this very important piece of work so these historic collections are preserved and many more people can enjoy them when they visit this fantastic castle.”

The Muniments Collection comprises the complete records of the castle and estate history since it was built in 1590.

Thirlestane Castle Trust will re-house the collection within the museum storage area and archive.

Mr Maitland-Carew added: "A copy of this unique collection is also held at the National Archive of Scotland.

"Once moved the original documents will be available for interested parties to view along with other stored items within the castle archive."

The Historic Toy Collection is dates from the Edwardian, Victorian and Georgian eras.

Some of the items belonged to children who lived in the castle with many more being loaned to Thirlestane Castle Trust.

The funding will allow the Trust to move the collection to a new location on the ground floor with wider accessibility for visitors.

It will also allow the Trust to create new displays and interpretation to improve and regenerate the visitor experience.

The total cost of relocating the two collections comes to around £70,000, with the rest of the costs being met by fundraising by the Trustees.

Thirlestane Castle will reopen for the summer season on Monday, April 30.