Westray is end of the line for charity walker

A marathon fund-raising walk along the three degrees West meridian came to an end in Westray on Saturday.

Gary Daynes began his 600 mile journey in England on March 3, heading for Westray - the northernmost point of Britain on the three degree line.

Money raised from the venture is going to Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Archive story: 'Three Degrees to Westray' walk

Bikers congregate for annual Orkney rally

Around 200 bikers were in Orkney at the weekend for the annual bike rally in Birsay.

The event, organised by the Orkney Bike Club this year saw bikers from as far afield as Germany attending.

NHS Orkney agree to book-balancing financial strategy

The strategy highlights the need for £3 million savings over the next five years. And planned developments are being delayed as the health board face an overspend of £700,000 this year.

Savings of £500,000 must be made by the board, the remainder coming from the Scottish Executive in an interest free loan. Among the cutbacks being looked at is the relocation of admin services from Garden House to Balfour Hospital and a shake-up of Balfour Hospital wards.

Weapon amnesty success

The police weapon amnesty is continuing to prove successful with guns, knives and ammunition being handed in on a daily basis.

The national weapons amnesty began at the start of the month and runs to the end of April.

Egg collector jailed

An egg collector who preyed on some of Orkney's rarest birds was sentenced to four months in prison in England on Thursday.

Anthony Higham of Widnes in Cheshire, who travelled the length of Britain in pursuit of wild birds' eggs, was found to have over 800 in his "collection", from birds such as the golden eagle and osprey.

Recovered video footage showed Higham stealing red-throated divers' eggs in Orkney.

Budget bad news for Orkney

Mr Carmichael highlights the above inflation increase in the duty on red diesel and heating oils, which he says "will be a hard pressed blow for our hard pressed farmers."

He added: "The extra to be charged on some heating oils will hit many local people who already have to spend more on heating their homes in the Northern Isles where winters and longer and colder than in the south."

Creel fishermen meet on future of industry

Orkney's creel fishermen met in Stromness on Thursday night to consider the next step in a research project to assess the industry's future.

The Project FISHER initiative is being co-ordinated by the International Centre for Island Technology in Stromness.

Fishermen were expected to discuss which aspect of the industry they think is most urgent at the meeting.

House prices rise 50 per cent

House prices in Orkney are rising - with demand for properties totally outstripping supply, according to local estate agents.

It is estimated that some property prices have risen as much as 50 per cent in the past five years. But although it's great news for sellers it's not so good for buyers - particularly first time buyers.

Andy McGinn of Drever & Heddle explained: "It is very difficult for the Orcadian family to get on the property market. Before they would be able to afford anything they would have to be earning £20,000 a year."

Civic Awards for two Orkney buildings

Trenabie Mill, Westray

Two Orkney buildings have won Civic Trust awards for design and environmental standards.

The St Magnus Centre in Kirkwall and Trenabie Mill in Westray have been described as outstanding examples of architecture and environmental design.

No cause for concern as radioactive waste shipped from Flotta

A consignment of radioactive waste is to be shipped from Flotta's oil terminal later this month for processing at the Sellafield nuclear plant.

However, Flotta terminal manager Maurice Ullman said there was no cause for concern as the material has an extremely low level of radioactivity.

The NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material) is extracted during pipe cleaning operations.

Information sought on Grainpark break-in

Police are appealing for information after a house in Kirkwall was broken into.

The house, at Grainpark, was entered some time between 6pm on Tuesday and 10am on Wednesday.

Anyone with information can contact Kirkwall police on 872241.

Wallace urges haste in Post Office aid

Jim Wallace and Alistair Carmichael have urged the Government to ensure that cash aid to rural post offices is not delayed.

£60 million of aid for Scottish post offices, announced last December, was to be authorised by the European Commission later this month. But it now seems that this could be delayed until summer.

Jim Wallace said: "At present many rural post offices are struggling to keep their head above water and any postponement in granting this money would be very worrying."

SSP call for party candidate debate

Orkney's election agent for the Scottish Socialist Party has challenged the four other party candidates to attend a debate with SSP candidate John Aberdein later this month.

Rob Crichton has called for Orkney's prospective Liberal, Labour, Scottish National Party and Conservative candidates to attend the open debate in the Stromness Academy Lecture Theatre on Monday, April 21 at 8pm.

Hamnavoe arrival marks start of a busy schedule of events

NorthLink's ferry Hamnavoe arrived in Orkney yesterday at the start of a series of events leading up to the date she finally comes into service.

After carrying out berthing trials at Hatston at 1pm, the ferry sailed for Stromness, arriving just after 5pm.

Her first commercial sailing across the Pentland Firth will be on Monday, April 21.

Click here for schedule of events

Pier protector vanishes

Police are appealing for information after the theft of a large, plastic pier protector from Burray.

The 5.6 metre long structure disappeared overnight on Monday. A police spokesman said that because of its rigidity it would have to have been removed using a large vehicle.

Anyone with information should contact Kirkwall police on 872241.

Midnatsol arrives to start a busy cruise liner season

The arrival of the first visiting cruise liner on Wednesday heralded the start of a busy summer in the waters around Orkney.

The 136-metre Midnatsol arrived in Kirkwall Bay around 6am on Wednesday morning and sailed for Bergen again at 6pm.

A total of 70 ships are expected to visit Orkney this year, six more than 2002.

Battle is on for 12 electoral wards

With the close of nominations on Monday, 37 names are in to contest the OIC elections next month.

Nine candidates look set to become councillors unopposed, of which only one, Mr Andrew Drever from Holm, is a new member.

The county's remaining 12 electoral wards will go to the polls to decide a new councillor.

Click here for full list and Scottish Parliament candidates

Brief glimpse of Neolithic house uncovered at Brodgar

Ness of Brodgar (Picture:Craig Taylor)

A Neolithic structure on the Ness of Brodgar was uncovered at the weekend but was subsequently reburied.

Unearthed by Beverley Ballin-Smith and Gert Petersen of Glasgow University's archaeological research division, the site at Brodgar Farm lies half-way between the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness.

But although the find is another exciting one for Orkney, the visiting archaeologists had no remit to excavate. Because the site is within Orkney's World Heritage Site, a decision must be made on how best to deal with the site.

Access code consultations under way

The first in a series of public consultations as part of consultation on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code took place on Monday.

The draft code ­ prepared by Scottish Natural Heritage ­ must be approved by the Scottish Parliament as part of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act, which gives people a legal right of access to the countryside.

The consultation began in Flotta and Shapinsay with meetings across the county scheduled for the coming weeks. Click here for meeting times and dates.

NorthLink Pentland Firth delays

NorthLink passengers had more delays on their Pentland Firth sailings on Monday because of the work being carried out on the Scrabster terminal.

The 5.30am sailing on Mondayonly left Scrabster at 6.55am and was expected in Stromness at 8.45am. Subsequent sailings were also delayed.

Volunteers sought for 2003 Bag the Bruck campaign

Orkney's annual Bag the Bruck "spring clean" is scheduled for the weekend of April 19/20 - but the organisers are still looking for volunteers.

Environmental Concern Orkney (ECO), who organise the campaign, would like to hear from individuals or groups willing to lend a hand this year.

With the winter's gales and high tides bringing in rubbish from the sea they say the beaches are in a particularly poor state.

Visit ECO website for more information and contact details

Two day visit for health chief but he didn't talk to press

But Mr Jones did not speak with the press during his visit.

Because of the forthcoming elections, the Scottish Executive said that he could not be quizzed by members of the press. Instead they released a press statement at the end of the visit.