A Glasgow whisky firm has revealed plans to build an £8m distillery on Islay.

Hunter Laing Co has submitted a planning application to develop a whisky distillery at Ardnahoe in the north east of the island.

If the plans go ahead, it will be the first distillery built on Islay in more than a decade.

The family-owned bottler and blender has been looking to acquire its own distillery and expand the business, which already distributes to 65 markets in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Australasia.

Director Scott Laing said: "The opportunity to bring fresh investment to the island and provide a new chapter in Islay's illustrious whisky-making history is tremendously exciting all of us."

The distillery could drive Islay's economy by creating several full-time jobs on the island, as well as many seasonal positions.

If Hunter Laing is given permission for the project, land owned by Islay Estates will be transferred to the bottler.

Lord Margadale, chairman of Islay Estates, said: "Islay is a beautiful island that is famed for its distinctive whisky. This is an exciting opportunity to build on this reputation and to help secure a strong economic future for the island."

Construction will begin in May 2016 if the plans are approved and the new distillery is expected to have whisky flow from its stills by the end of 2017.

The company will now be subject to a 21-day public consultation in hope that Argyll and Bute Council will accept its proposal and "fulfil their long-held dream".