An antique map found stuffed up a chimney has been restored after intricate conservation work.

The map, which was discovered during a renovation at a house in Aberdeen, was a "bundle of rags" when it was gifted to the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.

After painstaking restoration work, experts discovered it was a late 17th century wall map of the world.

The map - which was covered in dirt and severely damaged after being attacked by vermin and insects - is one of only two known copies in existence, produced by the Dutch engraver Gerald Valck.

Specialists had to be extremely careful when handling the map as fragments "fell off like confetti" every time it was moved and parts of it had disintegrated.

Book and paper conservator Claire Thomson slowly unfurled and flattened the map, removed it from linen backing and separated it into eight sections before cleaning and washing the paper and putting it on to a new lining.

The extensive work was one of the most complex project undertaken by Ms Thomson and the team.

She said the condition of the large map - which measures 2.2 metres by 1.6 metres - "filled her with dread".

Ms Thomson said: "Much of the paper had been lost and the remainder was hard and brittle in places and soft and thin in others.

"We needed to stabilise it to prevent any further deterioration, make it robust and easier to handle to get to a point where it could be studied by researchers."

The team's patience and hard work paid off and uncovered a detailed map with elaborate illustrations.

National Librarian Dr John Scally said: "This is one of the most challenging tasks our conservation team has faced and they have done a terrific job.

"Although significant sections of the map have been lost, the remainder has been cleaned and stabilised for future study and enjoyment.

"It would have been very easy for this map to end up at the bottom of a skip but thankfully it can now take its place among the magnificent maps held within our collection."