Savile cottage should be "transformed into a museum"

The Highland cottage owned by the late TV presenter Jimmy Savile should be transformed into a mountaineering museum, according to a leading author and broadcaster.

Cameron McNeish, a renowned mountain walker and commentator, has challenged suggestions that Allt Na Reigh, in Glencoe, should be demolished following vandalism of the property.

The cottage had previously been the home of Scottish mountaineer Hamish MacInnes, who invented revolutionary equipment at the premises such as the metal ice axe and mountain rescue gear which is widely used today.

Mr McNeish described MacInnes as "probably our greatest Scottish mountaineer".

The whitewashed building was sprayed with orange paint and "abusive slogans" last year, according to Northern Constabulary, after revelations of child and sex abuse allegations against the former Top Of The Pops and Jim'll Fix It host.

The words "Jimmy The Beast" were painted across the front of the building while "Beast" was sprayed over a side wall.

Previous plans to turn the remote property into a respite care centre for the disabled were abandoned when the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust closed down in the wake of the scandal.

Highland councillor Andrew Baxter, who represents the Fort William and Ardnamurchan ward, had previously said that demolition of the cottage was a "final option" and had been suggested by local residents.