An Angus councillor has expressed sadness at the plight of a historic hospital which has been left to rot.
David May said it was a great pity that no developer has taken on the former Sunnyside Hospital, which remains on the Buildings at Risk Register.
Sunnyside was open for 230 years before its closure in 2011 and was the oldest psychiatric hospital in Scotland.
Mr May said: “The extensive grounds of the old Sunnyside Hospital are regularly used by dog walkers and has many large as well as much smaller beautiful buildings.
“It is a great pity so far that no developer has yet seen the potential of this site, with the amazing buildings and wonderful views across Montrose as well as its proximity to the A90.
“In my view, the site is worth a visit so that a developer could see the possibilities.
“Furthermore, some of the smaller buildings are of the size to be a fantastic ‘grand designs’ project for people of vision.
“I certainly hope that the buildings will be used soon as the architecture, design and features are outstanding and it is sad to see the buildings and grounds not being used and going to rot.”
The theft-hit building is boarded up and riddled with asbestos.
NHS Tayside has been working with the Scottish Futures Trust to prepare the building for sale.
The original Montrose Asylum, which was the first in Scotland, was established by local woman Susan Carnegie, funded by public subscription and opened in 1781.
Expanding patient numbers led to the purchase of a new site at Hillside, which was designed by the architect William Lambie Moffatt, and the hospital buildings opened in 1857.
The site was further developed, with Carnegie Clinic and the hospital block, as well as a number of villas to house patients, added over the years.
Notable patients included the father of Arthur Conan Doyle, who was a talented artist, and Adam Christie, who sculpted the Hillside Robert Burns plaque.
In 1948, the National Health Service 1946 (Scotland) Act brought the hospital under control of the Eastern Regional Hospital Board.
Its name was changed from the Royal Asylum of Montrose to the Royal Mental Hospital of Montrose.
In 1962, it became Sunnyside Royal Hospital and came under the jurisdiction of new management.
During the 1950s and 1960s, the introduction of new drugs lessened the need for prolonged admission of patients.
In addition, the Mental Health (Scotland) Act of 1960 also significantly altered legislation in respect of mental illness and reduced the grounds on which someone could be detained in a mental hospital.
From the 1970s, advances in psychiatric care and greater community resources, including supported accommodation, and the set up of three community mental health teams in the 1990s, led to reduced patient numbers and the closure of some of the buildings on the Sunnyside site.
The new development at Stracathro replaced the existing facilities at Sunnyside.
The site was nominated for inclusion on the Register of Buildings at Risk by a member of the public in June 2009.
Since the building closed, it has been targeted by thieves, with copper piping from the attic and top floor being taken.
Some lead sheets were also stolen from roofs, while a one tonne copper water tank was also taken.