The Scottish Government is to help pay for the cost of restoring the grave of a poet who inspired Robert Burns.

The government will pay £2,500 towards the bill to repair the last resting place of Robert Fergusson, who died in 1774.

Saturday's announcement by Tourism Minister Jim Mather comes on the anniversary of Fergusson's birth in 1750.

Fergusson was admired by his contemporary writers but died at the age of 24 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Canongate kirkyard in Edinburgh.

Burns paid for a gravestone, and in later years Robert Louis Stevenson wrote from Samoa inquiring about the condition of the grave.

The stonework and surrounding area have now fallen into disrepair and the money will be used to restore it.

Mr Mather said: "Robert Burns acknowledged his debt to Fergusson by providing the gravestone which is still in place today.

"We are doing likewise by providing this funding to maintain it in good condition and in the hope future generations will continue to mark this influential poet's contribution to Scotland."