A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal following a two-vehicle road accident on New Scapa Road, Kirkwall, on Thursday.

The collision, between a black Renault Clio and a red Ford Fiesta, at 1pm resulted in both drivers being taken by ambulance the short distance to Balfour Hospital.

Kirkwall Sergeant Jim Pryde said: “It is not thought their injuries are serious, although both vehicles were extensively damaged. The road was closed for about an hour until the cars were removed.”

It has been revealed that a corroded gas pipe at the Oil Terminal in Flotta almost caused production to grind to a halt last month.

The discovery meant that the terminal had use tens of thousands of litres of diesel fuel a day to keep its' on-site power plant working and ensure production was maintained.

Had the diesel supply run out, the terminal would have been forced to shut down while the gas pipe was repaired - an operation which took two weeks.

No motorist in Orkney has so far tested positive for drink driving since the festive campaign began on Monday, Kirkwall police have reported.

But officers will not be resting on their laurels, and actively continuing the campaign, targeting drink or drug drivers and people speeding, Inspector David Miller said.

Orkney Islands Council Convener, Stephen Hagan, has given a cautious welcome to the council grant figures announced by the Scottish Executive.

He said: "The increase for next year is about £2.5m (4.7 per cent), followed by a £3.7m (6.8 per cent) increase in 2006/7, falling to £1.2m (2 per cent) in 2007/8.

"The increases next year and the year after are welcomed, however, they need to be considered against the background of identified spending needs next year of £7.5m, and the fact that we are contributing more than £6m each year from our own reserves to fund core services."

Kirkwall police are appealing for information on 872241 after a suspected fireraising attack on a house in Stromness on Wednesday, night when the holly wreath on the door of the property in Alfred Street was set alight, endangering the lives of a couple and their young child.

Kirkwall police Inspector David Miller said: “At 7.15pm the holly wreath was set alight. It fell off and was burning the bottom of the door and could have had more serious consequences were it not for the quick actions of the householders."

Orkney Talking Newspaper - which aims to keep visually or physically impaired people up to date with what is in The Orcadian - is the best in Scotland.

The organisation has won first place in this year’s newspaper tape competition run by the Association of Scottish Talking Newspapers.

The Orkney Talking Newspaper was set up in 1983 by just three people and now has 55 volunteers working to provide tapes for 150 people in Orkney, the rest of the UK and abroad.

More than £270,000 has been allocated to Orkney for sport and fitness facilities in Hoy and Westray.

SportScotland announced on Wednesday that the Pierowall swimming pool upgrade and healthy living centre had been granted £200,000 from the Building for Sport lottery fund. North Walls Healthy Living Centre has been allocated another £74,500.

The two buildings are part of a network of healthy living centres proposed by Orkney Islands Council.

Raymond Flaws, of Evie, and George Muir, Shapinsay, had success at the Orkney Auction Mart on Wednesday, with their animals taking the sheep and cattle championships in the annual Christmas prime stock show and sale.

It was the second win in a week for Mr Flaws, who had another Beltex-cross lamb take the championship at the Orkney Meat carcass competition.

Mr Muir’s home-bred Limousin-cross steer also won the heavy steer section of the competition.

Orkney Ferries is looking for a new manager after the resignation of Alasdair Henderson.

Mr Henderson handed in his notice last week, and he will leave in February. He was appointed ferry services manager in October, 2002, following the retirement of Alistair Learmonth.

An Orkney Islands Council statement said he had decided to move back to Glasgow for personal reasons.

The recent restructuring, which means all area tourist boards will be scrapped, has led to concerns that Orkney would be swallowed up by the national body.

But at the board’s last AGM on Tuesday night, members were keen to set up a new tourism action group, which will continue to market Orkney as a unique destination and ensure the county maintains a voice within VisitScotland.

Outgoing board chairman, John Hinckley, said: “We have had a very successful model in Orkney for the past nine years. We have punched above our weight."

Second homes owners will be paying more council tax after islands councillors gave the go ahead for an increase.

At the full meeting of Orkney Islands Council on Tuesday, they recommended reducing the amount of council tax discount given to second home owners from 50 per cent to ten per cent on additional properties.

There are about 700 second homes in Orkney, which are only liable for half the level of council tax. If the OIC reduces the discount to 10 per cent, it would raise up to £172,000 additional revenue.

Kirkwall Community Council is not in favour of bringing in a bye-law to ban drinking in public places.

Discussing the issue at their meeting on Monday night, community council members agreed that a bye-law would be too heavy-handed a measure to use to discourage the group of drinkers who spend time in Broad Street.

The chairman, Spencer Rosie, said an outright ban could cause other problems. “I think even the most upstanding of Kirkwall’s citizens have been known to carry hip flasks at the Ba’,” he said.

Kirkwall City Pipe Band were named the Scottish pipe band of the year at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards in Edinburgh on Saturday.

The ceremony which was held in the Queen's Hall, and was opened by last year's best instrumentalist, Phil Cunningham. Hadhirgaan, who had been invited to perform, gave a spectacular performance among the best musicians in the industry.

Saltfishforty missed out on the award for best up-and-coming act to the all-girl band, Dochas.

The Northern Constabulary launched its annual festive safety campaign on Monday.

The main focus of the campaign is drink-driving, although police will also be clamping down on speeding drivers.

Sergeant Jim Pryde said: “Orkney will be contributing with pro-active patrols at certain times targeting drink and drug driving and speeding. Drink driving continues to be a problem on the islands.”

The man who died in a fire at Little North Row in Longhope on Friday morning last week has been named as Anthony Reginald Culley, 58.

Attempts were made by a doctor to resuscitate Mr Culley at the time, Kirkwall police Inspector David Miller said today. “His partner escaped and raised the alarm. She was uninjured. Fire Brigade and police investigation officers attended and investigations are still being carried out,” Inspector Miller added.

There are no suspicious circumstances and a post mortem was carried out on Monday.

Kirkwall police are investigating a suspected drugs overdose after a 34-year-old man was taken to Balfour Hospital late on Thursday night from the NorthLink Aberdeen ferry, which had docked at Hatston, on its way to Lerwick.

Inspector David Miller said: “Police inquiries were carried out and a substance was seized and has been sent for analysis. The person was released from hospital later.”

“Inquiries are continuing while we await the outcome of the analysis,” the Inspector added.

Orkney's First XV rugby team have registered their first away win of the season in the National BT League Division Four.

They scored an important 15-9 victory in their trip to play Lenzie, near Glasgow, their second consecutive weekend travelling to the central belt. The Orkney two tries were scored by Al Watson and Erland Hutchison.

The team will now be in buoyant mood for their next two Division Four games, which will be played in Orkney

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has criticised a £50 cut in money received by pensioners over 70.

The Chancellor's Pre-Budget Statement included the abolition of the additional £100 given to pensioners over 70, this year, towards the cost of council tax bills. Although the Chancellor will be increasing the winter fuel payment from £200 to £250, the net impact of these changes, for the over 70s, will be a reduction of £50.

Mr Carmichael said: "It is clear that, yet again, pensioners lose out. Gordon Brown appeared to be increasing the amount pensioners received. The reality is that pensioners over 70 will be £50 worse off as a result.