Police are seeking information about a reported explosion in an upstairs flat on Junction Road, Kirkwall, this week, in the former Hydro Board premises.

The incident was reported by a member of the public in a 999 call. The person reported hearing the sound of an explosion and smoke coming from the flat.

Two fire engines and three police cars rushed to the scene, and discovered that someone had been tampering with a home-made firework which had gone off causing superficial damage to the window of the upstairs flat, resulting in the smoke which was seen.

Police say that the occupants of the flat had escaped by the time they arrived, and that they are keen to speak to anyone with information about the incident.

Plans are already in the pipeline to expand the new Orkney College because of unprecedented demand.

Councillors will be told next week of a £1.1 million project to extend the college, dependent on a council commitment of £180,000. A report by officials before next week's education committee says that the council's support could result in external funding of £920,000 being obtained.

The new extension would include an institute of archaeology, new library and a studio for the art and design department.

It's official. The Orkney ale Dark Island is the Champion Beer of Scotland. The dark flavoursome ale was granted the prestigious award at the Aberdeen and Grampian Beer Festival where a panel of judges chose it from a shortlist of six beers.

Dark Island had beaten beers from across the country to take the top title.

The man responsible for the beer's success is Rob Hill, head brewer at the Orkney Brewery in Sandwick who commented: "I'm over the moon. Absolutely delighted!"

The development of a care centre on Westray has been backed by councillors on the OIC social work and housing committee.

A bid has been made to the Scottish Executive for additional grant aided expenditure of £250,000 on a recurring basis for the proposed six-bed care home for the elderly on Westray.

Councillors at Thursday’s OIC social work and housing meeting were in support of the project. Councillor for Westray, Stephen Hagan said: “It will not just provide care for the elderly, but provide jobs especially for the womenfolk. It will bring dignity to the elderly who want to remain very much part of the community.”

Orkney’s social work budget is facing additional burdens next year – with escalating fuels costs among one of the problem areas.

Members at Thursday’s social work and housing meeting were also told that two children needed to be sent outwith Orkney for care, at a cost of £67,000, which had not been budgeted for.

Councillors agreed to recommend a budget of £6.807 million for the department for 2001-2002, with the additional costs of fuel through heating, and children being sent outwith Orkney added.

Drivers at the Orkney firm Craigie’s Taxis could be owed thousands of pounds in unpaid wages.

It is believed that up to 12 taxi drivers could be owed as much as £30,000 by their employer at the time, Mrs Avril Bain, dating back to the introduction of the national minimum wage on April 1, 1999.

Investigations into the Kirkwall-based firm are being carried out by the Inland Revenue National Minimum Wage Compliance Unit in Aberdeen.

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Papa Westray residents have greeted the idea of a causeway link to Westray with some anxiety, fearing a loss of jobs if a physical link is made between the islands.

Their reaction came after a suggestion from Highlands and Islands Minister, Mr Alasdair Morrison, on a visit to Westray and Papay last week. He raised the subject at the opening of Westray’s Höfn Drop-In Centre. He highlighted the benefits that had accrued to islands in his own area of the Western Isles such as Scalpay and Vatersay being linked by causeways, which had not resulted in a loss of their community spirit or sense of identity.

Mr Morrison suggested that a causeway could be worth considering for Westray and Papay, as a way of strengthening both communities.

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A start date for work on a new £5.25 million Orkney Creamery at Hatston, Kirkwall will be decided shortly, after the Scottish Environment Protection Agency announced yesteday that they had supported the project.

SEPA said they had granted consent for Orkney Cheese Company to discharge effluent into Kirkwall Bay from the new creamery.

Company chairman Mr George Eunson welcomed the news and told The Orcadian that a meeting would be held shortly to decide when work could commence. "It's fine to get that sorted out," he said.

Warnings about Halloween behaviour from police seem to have been heeded with Halloween passing fairly quietly.

But although things were quieter than usual there were still incidents of objects being placed on the roads and eggs and flour thrown at passing cars.

Speaking on Wednesday morning, Sergeant David Miller said: "Compared to other years it's definitely an improvement but there are still areas for concern, especially placing items on the road."

Councillors have decided to take no action following a proposal by the National Playing Fields Association to designate a field for public use in Orkney.

The proposal is similar in conception to the creation of King George V playing fields in the 1950s that were dedicated for free use by the public.

Much of Orkney's King George V Playing Field, opened in 1956 at Pickaquoy, Kirkwall, is no longer available for free use by the public following the construction of the Pickaquoy Centre on the site.

The company set to operate ferry services to the Northern Isles from 2002 are preparing to order three new purpose-built vessels from the shipyards.

Subject to finalising contracts, Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries say they will order the new Pentland Firth ferry from Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd of Port Glasgow. The 110-metre ro-ro ferry will operate the Scrabster to Stromness crossing.

The company is the preferred bidder for the contract and have issued letters of intent to order three vessels.

The other two vessels are 125-metre ferries for services between Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland. Northlink say these will be ordered from Aker Finnyards of Rauma, Finland.

BBC Radio Orkney are appealing for donations for their annual Children in Need appeal.

This year’s event runs on Friday, November 17 and the usual evening’s entertainment, including an auction, will go ahead at Radio Orkney.

If you have something to give, call Radio Orkney on 873939 or e-mail radio.orkney@bbc.co.uk.

Kirkwall police were involved in a drugs bust at the weekend where a "notable quantity" of illegal tablets was seized from somebody from outwith the county.

Police Inspector Paul Eddington said: "Pending an analysis of the drugs a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal, but we suspect they are ecstasy type tablets."

The inspector warned Orcadians, particularly parents, to be on the lookout for the tablets bearing a kangaroo motif.

"If anyone comes across such tablets then they should bring them to the police station or notify us," he said.

Kirkwall police can be contacted on 872241.

Orkney Health Board's influenza vaccination programme began in Kirkwall on Monday - a campaign thought to be the only mass vaccination programme of its kind in the country.

Kirkwall-based practices, Scapa Medical Group and Skerryvore, who between them care for over half of Orkney’s population, are offering flu vaccinations to eligible patients until November 8.

Last year, Orkney had the highest uptake of flu vaccinations in the whole of Scotland, and largely avoided the severe disruption that the illness caused in other parts of the country.

The developers of the Stromness aquarium are looking to build the complex on the shoreline below Garson Farm, beyond the Hamnavoe housing estate.

A planning application for the development will be considered by islands councillors this week.

It had previously been hoped that the aquarium would be sited on the premises used by the West Mainland Mart site on Ferry Road. Councillors, however, ruled it out as a possible location because it was still being used as lairage for livestock awaiting shipment as well as for marshalling other goods associated with harbour operations.

Planning officials accept that there seems to be no suitable alternative sites along the harbour front or elsewhere in Stromness so are recommending that the project be granted conditional planning consent.

The shortlisted nominees for the first ever Orkney Sporting Awards have been revealed by organisers, the Orkney Sports Development Group.

The nominees are as follows:

Sportsman of the Year: Duncan Johnston - cycling; Sandy Nicolson - fishing; William Sichel - long distance running.

Sportswoman of the Year: Rosie Cursiter - athletics; Ella Glue - bowling; Moira Nicolson - netball. hockey and badminton.

Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Ruth Pottinger - football and athletics; Diane Norquoy - Javelin; Ingrid Norquoy - hockey and netball.

Coach of the Year: Brian Diack - rugby; Graham Johnston - football; Linda Reeve - netball.

Team of the Year: Dounby A Football Team; Orkney Rugby Club First XV; Royal British Legion Fly Fishing Team.

Service to Sport Award: Katy Coward - riding; James (Pye) Groundwater - rugby; Andrew Wilson - triathlon and cycling.

A dedicated millennium playing field for the public - free of charge - could be designated in Orkney and paid for by Orkney Islands Council reserve fund money.

The proposal, put forward by the National Playing Fields Association, is similar in conception to the setting up of King George V Playing Fields throughout the country in the 1950s.

Most of Orkney's King George V Playing Field, opened in 1956 at Pickaquoy, Kirkwall, is no longer available for free use by the public following the construction on the site of the Pickaquoy Centre.

The matter is due to be discussed by councillors at Monday's recreation and cultural services committee.