The changes follow a review of navigational aids around Scotland, and will see the foghorn switched off "due to the diminished value of audible aids to navigation."

Other changes include a reduce the range of the existing lights at Noss Head and Copinsay, and the lighting of the unlit beacons at Seal Skerry and The Riv in Sanday.

The improvements will allow for better access to council meetings and will also benefit security and fire safety arrangements.

During the refurbishment works, the council chamber will be closed for safety reasons.

But Orkney's payment has yet to be finalised.

An OIC spokesman confirmed this week that the Scottish Executive had received Orkney's claim for damage relief. The claim is being examined by auditors, before the Executive make a final decision.

It is hoped that the council will receive £90,000, despite the actual estimated cost of repairing the storm damage being in the region of £1 million.

Archive story: Flood misery follows night of storms

The public are being warned to stay away from Skaill beach in Sandwick, following the discovery of a potentially explosive device.

The object, thought to be a military flare, which is supposed to detonate on contact with water, has been cordoned off.

A bomb disposal team are travelling to Orkney on Friday to deal with the device.

Mr Wallace said, "The trial has been operating for only a few months and already I have received a worryingly high number of reports of shortcomings in the performance of the helicopter."

OIC convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan added: "A recent case where the E135 helicopter wasn't able to do a call to the North Isles because it wouldn't be able to land the patient in Kirkwall due to adverse weather is particularly worrying, especially when the Islander didn't miss any of its regular flights on that day. This is one example where the service hasn't lived up to its promise."

It is hoped that the meeting will be held in Orkney next week, during a visit by the minister.

Police have expressed concern after finding two young girls drinking "straight" whisky in public in Kirkwall last night.

The bottle was confiscated from the 14 and 15-year olds and their parents were contacted, according to Kirkwall Sergeant Gordon Deans.

"This is a dangerous road to be going down at that age. We are proactive in trying to trace the youngsters with drink, but we need the support of parents and licensees to be more vigilant."

Orkney Cheese has won gold at the largest cheese show in the world.

The Nantwich International Cheese Show, which is open to the public today, attracts more than 1,000 entries from around the world and more than 30,000 visitors. Nantwich is near Crewe.

Orkney white mature cheddar achieved first and second, winning a gold and silver medal in a class of 41 entries.

The company's mild and extra mature cheeses also earned a third, highly commended and very highly commended.

The "earthy taste", as it is described, is due to an algal bloom in the Boardhouse Loch, but the water authority is stressing that the water remains safe to drink.

A spokesman said: "We have been monitoring the algae levels in the water and there are signs of a significant drop in the most recent samples. Monitoring is continuing. The fact that the algae levels are dropping is a positive sign."

He added that output from the Kirbister treatment works has been increased, to dilute or replace water from Boardhouse.

Orkney's NFUS branch will invite the preferred ferry service bidders to discuss livestock shipping.

Members at Monday night's meeting in Kirkwall were told the bidders had just 15 weeks to consult with the industry and devise and cost a system for loading livestock.

The branch decided to write to V Ships, Irish Continental Ferries and Caledonian MacBrayne. These bidders will also be told about the work of the Orkney and Shetland inter-isles consultative working group on livestock shipping, which had been working on the problem for two years to identify a preferred shipping system.

Mr Wallace asked the Minister for an explanation behind the rules and asked whether there was scope for some derogation for rural communities from the legislation.

Commenting on the issue today, Jim Wallace said, "I hope that the Minister will accept that there is a need to recognise the need to adjust the rules to allow the vital Orkney mobile dental service to continue. This is definitely a case of one size not fitting all."

Archive story: New decontamination rules
mean the end of Orkney's mobile dentist service

The old tradition of drumming in the Mercat to announce next week's St Magnus Fair took place in Kirkwall on Wednesday.

Mr Charlie Millar, dressed in the uniform of a halberdier, read the proclamation, accompanied by Kirkwall City Pipe Band Drummer, Cecil Sinclair.

They started from the Mercat Cross in Broad Street at noon, proceeding to the pier, then back up Victoria Street to the Long Corner.

Among the grants was £30,000 to the RSPB to help fund the Hoy countryside, and an officer for the Orkney Corncrake Initiative.

Other grants included contributions towards a Scapa Flow leaflet, the Sanday Ranger's post and the Orkney Woodland Project.

SNH area manager , John Uttley, said: "There is a huge amount of interest in Orkney and I am very pleased that SNH can help translate this into actions that benefit the natural heritage and give residents and visitors more opportunities to understand and enjoy it."

Orkney Enterprise chairman, Brian Kynoch (centre) with retiring directors Norma Campbell and Ronnie Johnson.

The new directors will replace Ronnie Johnson and Norma Campbell, who are retiring by rotation after having served on the board for a total of 11 years.

Candidates for the directorships will be identified through local advertising.

Brian Kynoch has also announced that he intends to stand down as chairman in spring 2006. The position will, at that time, be filled by current deputy chairman, Edgar Balfour.

Honorary Sheriff John Flett called for a social inquiry report and community service assessment, following the guilty pleas by Allan James Stanger, Pumpwell Park, Stromness.

After an initial incident last week, Stanger, 34, was granted bail on the condition that he stay away from the woman. He was subsequently arrested for approaching her.

Honorary Sheriff John Flett granted bail on condition that Stanger only contact the woman by telephone. Sentence was deferred until September 7.

Highland Park 18-year-old - named best spirit in the world

Highland Park¹s 18-year-old single malt whisky has topped a poll in which it is named the "best spirit in the world² by American whisky expert, Paul Pacult.

The accolade was made in the US drinks publication 2005 Spirit Journal's 100 listing of the world¹s best 100 distilled spirits, and was judged against spirits across the globe.

Announcing the number one position, Paul Pacult said: ³Out of the hundreds of whiskies from Scotland, Canada, the US, Japan, India and Ireland, Highland Park 18-year-old is the finest of them all and right now my favourite distilled spirit.²

An algal bloom in the Boardhouse Loch is leaving a growing number of Orkney householders with a bad taste in their mouths.

The water coming from the taps served by the Boardhouse water treatment works has developed a bad taste - described by Scottish Water as "earthy".

Confirming they have been receiving an "increasing number of comments", a spokesman said: "This is not uncommon and Scottish Water would like to reassure customers that the water is safe to use. Scottish Water is continuing to monitor the situation."

Police have praised the behaviour of revellers at the Stromness Shopping Week pierhead dance on Saturday night.

Twelve police officers and special constables were on the beat, but there was only one arrest - a 20-year-old man arrested for an alleged breach of the peace.

A large quantity of alcohol was confiscated from youngsters on a bus heading to Stromness on Saturday night.

Three plain clothes officers carried out searches on seven youths, three of whom were under 16. Fifteen cans of lager, five bottles of lager, 13 bottles of alcopops and a bottle of vodka were taken.

Sergeant Bob Mackenzie said it was part of Operation Calibre.

A 61-year-old woman is to be reported to the procurator fiscal for alleged drink driving.

She was stopped on the Old Finstown Road by police in the early hours of Sunday morning.