A stately home in Scotland has opened its doors to the public for the first time in 250 years.

Dumfries House in Ayrshire was on the market for around £25 million but was saved at the 11th hour by the Prince of Wales, who led a consortium of charities and the Scottish Government to make the purchase last summer.

Charles helped arrange a £45 million deal to buy the 18th century house and its collection of Chippendale furniture and secure its future.

Acknowledged as one of the most architecturally significant stately homes in the UK it is set in 2,000 acres of land.

As he unveiled the plaque to officially open the house, Charles said: "What an exciting day it is as far as I am concerned and I think quite a lot of others, that finally we've managed to open this remarkable house after really quite a lot of effort.

"I pray that as a result of Dumfries House, and what we might be able to do here, it will indeed help provide a catalyst for the regeneration of this remarkable area."

The house, the former home of the Marquises of Bute, was last inhabited in 1993 and has since been looked after by a caretaker.

The last member of the family to live in the house was Eileen, the dowager Marchioness of Bute who died in 1993.

Major work needed to be done on the A-listed property to make it suitable for visitors after more than two centuries in private hands.

The Palladian mansion is famed for its collection of Scottish furniture and furniture by master craftsman Thomas Chippendale, which was specially made for the house.

Charles' charity, the Prince's Charities Foundation, contributed £20 million towards the purchase of the property.

Also included in the deal was 66 acres of land adjoining Cumnock for development with housing.

Its development is being led by the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, which has been consulting with local people to come up with ideas for the area, called Knockroon.

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