The first North Ronaldsay Folk Festival took place in the island at the weekend.

Organised by residents, the event, titled The Rinansay Folk Festival, promises acts such as The Wrigley Sisters, The Marwicks from Rousay, Hom Bru and Westside.

The event started on Friday nightand finished off on Saturday with an open air concert, barbecue and bonfire at the Auld Lighthouse.

Hundreds of people queued to get a glimpse of the plans for a Lidl store in Kirkwall on Friday.

Mangers of the foodstore were on hand to discuss the proposal, which could see a new store open alongside Somerfield on Pickaquoy Road by February, next year.

Gordon Greens, Lidl sales executive, said: "We tend to work hand in hand with local businesses, bringing a lot more foot traffic to the areas."

It has been confirmed that HRH The Duke of York will visit Orkney next month.

In his capacity as a special representative for international trade and investment, Prince Andrew is scheduled to visit the Flotta Oil Terminal, Ortak Jewellery and the Highland Park Distillery on Wednesday, July 13.

The OIC received 18 objections - at least four of which were from non-residents - to the application. The majority of objections highlighted the impact the property could have on the archaeology and wildlife of the area. Speaking in the council chamber this morning, one objector also accused the OIC planning department of not remaining neutral in the matter.

Islands councillors agreed to defer the application, submitted by C. & C. B. Leslie of Lopness, until the site can be visited by officials.

His call came after an Office of Fair Trading report found that farmers are often afraid to complain about the way they are treated by supermarkets for fear of reprisals.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Carmichael asked the Department for Trade and Industry minister, Alun Michael, to look at the National Farmers Union of Scotland proposals to create an independent regulator that will investigate complaints and protect complainants against any reprisals to be taken from the supermarkets.

Mr Ewing is very keen to support nominations for groups of volunteers who give up their time to provide a high-quality service within their local community.

Commenting on his call Mr Ewing said: "We all need to recognize the commitment and generosity of people who give their time voluntarily to help and serve their communities."

Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace has stepped down from his role as Scotland's Deputy First Minister, and also leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Transport Minister Nicol Stephen is to replace Mr Wallace, who has been party leader for 13 years.

Mr Wallace, who was first elected to represent Orkney and Shetland at Westminster in 1983, announced his decision in May, adding that he will not be standing for re-election at the next Scottish election in 2007.

A GP who publicly criticised the running of the health service in Orkney has been cleared of acting maliciously my the General Medical Council.

Dr Robbie Coull, who believes NHS Orkney tried to "shut him up" told The Orcadian: "I an delighted the GMC agreed that doctors do have the right to speak out as long as they can justify what they are saying."

Dr Coull, who provided locum cover on Shapinsay and at Kirkwall's Scapa Practice, left Orkney last year after his contract ran out.

The sea snail tidal device has been recovered from the sea bed, after engineers had problems retrieving it earlier this month.

The prototype device, used to anchor tidal current energy devices, was placed in Burra Sound, between Hoy and Graemsay last month. It was finally recovered with only minor cosmetic damage on Tuesday.

Project leader, Alan Owen of Robert Gordon University, said: "Structurally the snail is fine, we just need to do some cosmetic repairs. We have learned a few things from the experience. This was a test to see if it would work and it has, so it is good news."

The Citizen's Advice Bureau has claimed that a third of recipient families have been overpaid - and many forced into poverty repaying the government. He goes on to call for such overpayments to be written off.

Alistair Carmichael said: "1,400 local families have been overpaid and are being forced to repay on average £1,071. That represents a combined overpayment of £1.5m which is being clawed back from local families."

He added: "The current tax credit system is failing many families. The policy of reassessing income at the end of the award is flawed. The Government must return to a system of fixed awards as a matter of urgency. "

The Pickaquoy Centre Trust has revealed that they will need at least half a million pounds to keep the centre running in 2005-2006.

In a report before councillors at the OIC's policy and resources committee, it states that one of the "particular difficulties" for the trust has been the recruitment and retention of staff.

No discussions took place in the council chamber, with members instead agreeing to wait to air their views at a planned seminar on the operation of the leisure centre in August.

Plans for the £4 million regeneration of the Stromness town centre took a step forward on Tuesday.

Recommendations at the OIC policy and resources committee meeting saw the development of a covered "public square" moved forward into phase one.

Other works in the first phase, which will be spread over three years, include buying and demolishing property and new builds within the pierhead area.

A 15-camera CCTV system for Kirkwall¹s town centre was backed by islands councillors on Tuesday.

Members of the OIC policy and resources committee recommended that a fibre-optic system, owned by the council itself, be installed ­ despite the fact it could take some time to implement.

The installation costs, with five years maintenance, totals £216,000 ­ however, funding of nearly £160,000 has been secured from the Scottish Executive.

The system, which it is estimated will cost £11,800 a year to run, will be monitored by Kirkwall police. Councillors further recommended that businesses to benefit from the system be contacted and asked if they were willing to contribute.

An estimated 250 people turned out at the Ring of Brodgar in Stenness on Tuesday night for a fund-raising event to raise awareness and money for a local cat rescue charity.

On the summer solstice - the longest day of the year - the gathered crowd linked arms to create a chain of people around the ancient stone ring, which has a circumference of approximately 326 metres (357 yards).

Firth Primary School

Firth Primary School is one of nine schools in the UK and Ireland to go through to the final of the Rolls-Royce Science Prize teaching awards programme.

The school impressed the judges with its proposal to introduce an area of willow production where pupils can study a range of topics linked to conservation and biodiversity.

Rolls-Royce has awarded the school £5,000 to put its teaching plan into practice, and a digital video camera to allow progress to be recorded.

The winner, who will receive an additional £15,000, will be announced in June 2006.

A report is being submitted to the procurator fiscal following an incident at Yesnaby in Sandwick on Monday night.

Police, the Stromness lifeboat and the coastguard attended the scene and a 46-year-old man was taken into police custody.

No other details have been released.

The figures were published on Monday by Highlands and Islands Liberal Democrat MPs to highlight the extra cost of road fuel in the north of Scotland.

Across the UK the average price for a litre of unleaded petrol is 86.8p and 89.8p for diesel - in Orkney it is 92.9p and 95.9p respectively.

Commenting on the figures, Alistair Carmichael MP said: "It now costs in excess of £1 for a litre for fuel in the many parts of Orkney and Shetland. That represents a huge burden for local businesses and individuals."

The volunteer-crewed lifeboat was launched just after 9pm and reached the becalmed vessel, Stride, at 11.10pm.

The lifeboat towed the Stride to Pierowall in Westray, arriving at 2.30am on Monday morning.

The Scottish Natural Heritage scheme provides payments to farmers in return for land management that is beneficial to the local hen harrier population.

This year saw a doubling in applicants, but uncertainty due to changes in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has meant many farmers need more time to consider whether or not to sign up. As a result around £500,000 in payments are still to be allocated.

For further details on the Orkney Hen Harrier Scheme contact: Sue Agnew at SNH, 54-56 Junction Road, Kirkwall, 01856 875302.

Passengers on board a bus from Stromness to Kirkwall escaped injury on Monday morning after the vehicle was involved in a collision with a van.

The incident, which occurred at Hatson around 8.40am, resulted in damage to both vehicles.

Kirkwall police have confirmed the sudden death of Anthony Linklater, 78, George Street, Kirkwall, on Monday of last week.

A police spokesman added that there were no suspicious circumstances.

The airport fire engine, before being craned out of the field on Friday

An airport fire engine had to be lifted from a field in Deerness on Friday, after leaving the road near Seatter farm.

The fire engine, which was out on a training run, left the road after clipping the verge and ended up on its side in a field.

There were no injuries and the vehicle was safely righted shortly afterwards.

The German supermarket chain Lidl, have confirmed that they have submitted a planning application to build a store in Kirkwall as part of their ongoing expansion programme.

The discount foodstore chain, which has stores in Thurso and Wick, are to hold an open day on Friday, June 24, to give the public the opportunity to discuss the proposed development and sample some of their products.

Although the company have not named the exact site which is under consideration, they have said that the open day will be held on Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall.

The Golden Princess in Kirkwall Bay on Saturday.

After bad weather caused the cancellation of the last planned visit of the cruise liner, the Golden Princess, she finally made it on Saturday.

Kirkwall pier was a hive of activity, as the tenders unloaded the passengers, the majority of whom were going on bus tours around the Mainland.

The Golden Princess is the largest liner scheduled to visit Orkney this year, and is 290m long (942.5 feet) and about 60m (18 storeys) tall, and 36m wide and is able to carry 2,700 passengers. It is bigger than the world’s largest aircraft carrier.

Papdale Primary School, in Kirkwall, has received a glowing report from HM Inspectorate of Education and the Care Commission.

Inspectors were very impressed with the provision for pupils and highlighted the caring staff team, commitment of the senior management team to improve provision and the very good programme of work.

The report also detailed areas where improvements could be made and recommended that the school reviews the layout of the pre-school area to allow pre-school pupils access to the whole area, rather than working as two separate classes.

Orkney Islands Council will begin the search for a new Assistant Chief Executive next week, after Malcolm Burr was appointed Chief Executive of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) on Friday..

Malcolm, who has been with the Council since 1997, will work three months notice, before taking up his post in the Western Isles in October.

The Assistant Chief Executive's post at Orkney Islands Council will be advertised within the next two weeks, and an appointment made in early autumn.

Orkney’s local health plan has been approved, paving the way forward for future health services in the county.

However, health board vice-chairman, Dr Douglas Deans, expressed concern at making promises within the plan that simply couldn’t be met. “I am still concerned about the impression the plan gives,” he said. “We need to be crystal clear about what we are promising. There are lots of things that are ‘motherhood and apple pie’ that are stuck in there.”

The document, which was agreed at yesterday’s health board meeting, is an update of the plan 2003-2008.