A SENIOR diplomat came to the region last weekend to see a chapel at an old prisoner of war camp.

The former Ukraine minister of foreign affairs, Vadym Prystaiko, the country's ambassador to the UK, paid a visit to the chapel in Hallmuir, near Lockerbie - and met families with strong links to the eastern European state.

He was joined by the Ukrainian consul general for Scotland, Natalia Ostapenko.

The pair were given a traditional bread and salt reception by the volunteers who look after the Orthodox Greek Catholic chapel.

The building is Grade B listed and houses an exhibition of the Ukrainians who lived at the camp and built the chapel - after they were displaced in the confusion of World War Two, with many staying afterwards..

Many descendants of those that lived at the camp still live in the region and have retained the culture and language.

The diplomats also visited the Lockerbie Disaster Memorial and laid a wreath on behalf of the Ukrainian Government.

Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP, David Mundell, attended with son, and MSP, Oliver Mundell.

Mr David Mundell welcomed the high-level official visit to his constituency.

He said: "The way the Hallmuir camp chapel has been preserved and the plans for the future reflect great credit on all the volunteers involved."

Dumfriesshire MSP Mr Oliver Mundell said: "The chapel's beautiful interior is well worth a visit.

"In particular it's become a focal point for individuals with Ukrainian connections locally, across the UK and, indeed, globally."