Plans have been approved to develop Scotland's first commercial gold mine.

It is thought that more than £50m of gold and silver could be extracted from the site at Cononish, near Tyndrum. Around 50 jobs are expected to be created in the 10-year project.

Scotgold Resources submitted an application to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs national park authority in July after another application was refused last year.

At a special hearing of the case, the national park convener, Linda McKay, said: "Without question, this has been the largest and most complicated planning application we have ever had to consider.

"As guardians of some of the most stunning scenery in Scotland, it would have been easy to refuse the second application if we were considering the short-term impact on the landscape, but this National Park plans for long-term conservation management, and that includes having the vision to see beyond the temporary life of the gold mine."

The original application for planning permission to explore the mine was rejected because of concerns over poor restoration proposals for Glen Cononish. Scotgold and the park authority worked together to resolve the objections.

McKay said: "We also have a 30-year commitment to improve the wider Glen Cononish. The Greater Cononish Glen management plan will include extending existing native Caledonian pine forest and improving habitats and access tracks.

"This legally binding agreement means the glen will regain its quiet, remote character following closure of the mine and the landscape will be improved from its current state."

The development covers 39 hectares and the annual extraction will be approximately 72,000 tonnes of ore, with 21,000 ounces of gold and 83,000 ounces of silver estimated to be recovered annually.

Almost 50 conditions have been attached to the approved application, including a 30-year conservation plan for Glen Cononish, bat and otter surveys, as well as limits on extraction, working hours and blasting.