CONSTRUCTION work is to begin preparing military firing ranges for the shooting competition at next year's Commonwealth Games.

The Barry Buddon Training Centre at Carnoustie, Angus, which is run by the Ministry of Defence, will host all the shooting contests, including clay target, full bore, pistol and small bore events.

The vast Barry Buddon facility extends to 2600 acres - 950 hectares - and includes 21 ranges used to train soldiers in the use of small arms, heavy machine guns and mortars.

The MoD range was used for the full-bore rifle contest during the Edinburgh Games in 1986, but next year all the shooting events will take place there.

The ranges will remain fully operational to military users during the run-up to the Games.