The Hall of Clestrain in Orphir has lost out on a second-chance at being included in the final vote for the Restoration television programme.

Although the property lost out in the earlier rounds of public voting, the "best runner-up" would still be included in the final short-list.

But the best runner-up, announced last night, is the Bawdsey Transmitter block in Suffolk, England.

Orkney Boat Museum website

Orkney Sailing Club's regatta took place in foggy conditions in Kirkwall on Saturday - and to the relief of the competitors the flat calm conditions that plagued the Westray Regatta did not return.

Orkney Sailing Club website

Orkney agricultural show season began on Friday with the Sanday Show.

Overall champion was Jackie Sinclair's horse Almanac Jack - a 13-year-old Warmblood.

The total number of passenger using the airport in 2003/04 was 113,675, compared to 111,445 in 2002/03.

But despite passenger increases across all their airports, the company still made a loss of £643,000, albeit a reduction compared with the figure of £1,304,000 in 2002/03.

Stromness Fire Brigade attended an incident in Evie on Thursday night after a farm baler caught fire.

The Stromness unit attended the scene around 9.20pm and extinguished the fire, which is thought to have been cahsed by a mechanical fault.

Although the baler suffered 40 per cent damage, there were no injuries.

NorthLink have finalised a deal to charter a French vessel to stand in for their freight vessel Clare, which is in dry-dock after engine problems..

The Colibri is due to report for duty at noon on Monday, allowing the Hascosay to return to the Orkney -Aberdeen freight route.

Finance minister Andy Kerr made the announcement on Thursday, adding that the resulting additional income will be retained locally and used to provide new-built affordable social housing.

He said: "Second home owners contribute strongly to local communities in many areas. But second homes and properties which have been left vacant over a number of years can cause problems for local areas, including limiting the supply of affordable housing for local people."

Police are trying to track down a Canadian woman who is on holiday in Orkney.

Grampian and Northern Constabulary would like to trace Moira Campbell, who is about 80, and who lives in the Saskatchewan area of Canada. She is thought to be touring Caithness and Orkney with her daughter Wanda, aged about 55, and her granddaughter, Jessie.

Details of the car being used are not known. If found, Mrs Campbell is asked to contact home as soon as possible about afamily matter.

The climbing partner of a man who fell to his death in Orkney last week has told The Orcadian how a last-minute decision to tackle a 12-metre stack ended in tragedy.

Les Gorham, 55, from Manchester, England, died while he attempted to abseil down The Clett, one of two sea stacks in Windwick Bay, South Ronaldsay.

Orkney climber Iain Miller was with Mr Gorham, and had been part of the four strong team who scaled St John's Head in Hoy.

Livestock shipments between Orkney and Aberdeen should be back to normal next week.

NorthLink chief executive Bill Davidson said negotiations were well advanced to find a ship to replace the Clare, the freight vessel serving Shetland, which has been taken out of service for urgent engine repairs.

The Hascosay, which normally takes stock from Orkney on a Monday, was diverted to Shetland this week to collect about 1,200 sheep.

An announcement is expected from NorthLink tomorrow, Thursday.

J.D.M. Robertson opens the St Magnus Fair

Slightly earlier than usual, the 31st annual St Magnus Fair took place in the shadow of the cathedral in Kirkwall on Wednesday afternoon.

The annual fair, to raise money for the upkeep of the twelfth century cathedral, was opened by local businessman, and the man behind Orkney Today, Mr John D. M. Robertson.

Hailing the cathedral as "a jewel" in the midst of the burgh, Mr Robertson explained how the building had survived successive depridation, including occupation by troops, the indifference of city fathers, the climate and the inexorable ravages of time.

Managing director Duncan Maclean has confirmed that after considering a number of possible deals, the family-owned business was no longer seeking a buyer.

Mr Maclean said: "I am convinced that the interests of both the Tait family, current owners of the business, and all the staff, are best practised by maintaining the status quo."

Click here for Ola Gorie website

The five-year contracts will come into force on Tuesday, August 17, and will see the local and school contracts combined for the first time.

Some single fares will rise slightly but return fares will become one-and-a-half times the single fare, instead of double, as at present.

Two men have been arrested following an alleged house break-in and a number of thefts in St Margaret's Hope.

Police were alerted at 6.30am on Monday morning and following inquiries, two males in the Buttquoy area of Kirkwall were detained after being found with suspected stolen property.

Police said that during the course of their inquiries more suspected stolen property and a suspected quantity of drugs were found. A report is being submitted to the procurator fiscal.

The old water mains, which were installed before the war, are to be replaced with plastic pipes in a scheme that will see 38km of mains replaced and upgraded on the islands.

Work is due to start later this month and is expected to be complete by early 2005.

After receiving several complaints this week, Sergeant Neil Burgess said: “We would like to advise residents that they should not make any deal unless they are totally happy with the terms and should not feel pressured into making any form of trade.”

If anyone has any concerns regarding a caller they should contact police in Kirkwall on 872241.

With the support of Orkney Enterprise, a collection of Sui Generis' work will be shown during the Edinburgh Festival as part of the New Scottish Furniture exhibition.

Those attending the show will be able to commission new pieces from Colin Kerr, and his son Leo.

The exhibition runs from Friday, August 6, and runs until Saturday, August 28.

Click here for Sui Generis website

Mr Kerr was speaking during his visit to Orkney on Monday, when he officially opened the council's One-Stop Shop.

"The Customer Service One-Stop Shop demonstrates the benefits ease of access to improved public services can have on a community," he said. "It is particularly important in a place like the Orkney Islands where the people looking to use council services could face long and difficult journeys to access information and services."

Kirkwall police have confirmed this afternoon that they are not treating the death of a man in Kirkwall last week as suspicious.

John William Bews, 29, died suddenly last Thursday, and police had appealed for information from the public.

The 2004 work will focus further on the various aspects of metalworking that once took place around the Iron Age monument, as well as looking at why there are incredibly deep soils in certain areas of the site.

From Thursday, August 5, the public can join one of the free guided tours of the excavation, which will run Monday to Friday at noon and 3pm.

The 2004 excavation is sponsored by Orkney Islands Council, Historic Scotland, Orkney Enterprise and Orkney College.

External link: Metalworking and mystery at Minehowe: The 2003 Excavation

Brian Aim, of building contractors John R. Aim in Holm, was presented with the Jewson's "Builder from Heaven trophy" in Kirkwall on Monday afternoon.

One of 30 shortlisted builders, Brian swayed the judges with his long-standing reputation. He was also commended for encouraging youngsters to follow in his footsteps into the construction trade.

While numbers on mainland Scotland have declined over the past six year, in Orkney the numbers are on the increase.

The study blames the Scottish drop in figures on illegal persecution by gamekeepers involved in driven grouse shooting.

Orkney Islands Council's financial settlement from the Scottish Executive was the main topic of discussion during finance minister Andy Kerr's visit to the county on Monday.

OIC officials were repeating their calls for the Executive to address an anomaly in funding between Scotland's three island authorities.

Orkney's opening goal - from a penalty kick. Picture: Bryan Leslie

Orkney's senior football team won the senior inter-county football match against Shetland, by five goals to four - the first time since 1990 that Orkney have lifted the trophy.

Orkney looked to be well on their way to a surprise victory on Saturday, by the half time whistle when they were leading 3-0 against a ten-man Shetland team, but the Shetland team rallied and at full time the teams were level 4-4, and the match was went into extra time.

Orkney scored in extra time to secure the Milne Cup.