PLANS have been unveiled to turn a former town centre store in Galashiels into an Italian restaurant.

Kennedy's Country Store vacated the prominent premises on Bank Close more than two years.

And the site between Bank Street and Overhaugh Street has remained vacant ever since.

Businesswoman Lesley Anderson has now applied for permission to convert the ground floor premises into a restaurant and take away.

As well as a 50 square-metre seating area, the restaurant will feature a servery area with wood-fired ovens.

Ms Anderson, a former health care lecturer, secured permission in 2015 to turn the shop into a childcare centre.

But her Limelight Childcare business went out of business last summer with the loss of 11 jobs.

The full planning application for change of use and alterations will be considered by Scottish Borders Council over the coming weeks.