Orkney Amateur Football Association held a meeting on Friday night following a complaint that Kirkwall's Wanderers FC fielded an unregistered player in a game against Burray.

Wanderer's victory put Burray into a play-off position. But the result of the game was called into question and resulted in the weekend's play-off match between Accies and Burray being cancelled.

But OAFA officials threw out the complaint, which had not been submitted in writing as per the association's constitution.

Orkney's captain, Glen McLellan, scoring the third try of the match

Orkney RFC eased their way to another victory on Saturday afternoon, trouncing Mackie FP¹s 61-0 in the BT National League Division 5 encounter.

The home side started brightly when captain Glen McLellan powered his way through to score in the second minute.

Orkney scored nine tries on total, with on-form James Linklater converting eight of them.

The win means Orkney¹s unbeaten run continues, in their first three games of the season they have racked up 216 points without reply.

Thirty-five years ago, Sir Peter visited Orkney on holiday, where he discovered the work of George Mackay Brown. From that a friendship and source of musical inspiration was born.

The programme - entitled An Orkney Friendship celebrates the music and fellowship of the two men.

The programme airs at 10pm on BBC 2 Scotland.

Orkney Amateur Football Association were to hold a meeting on Friday night to try and remedy a situation caused when Kirkwall's Wanderers fielded an unregistered player in a game against Burray.

Wanderer's victory put Burray into a play-off position. But the result of the game is now being called into question. This weekend's play-off match between Accies and Burray has also been cancelled.

If the OAFA committee decide to award the disputed game's points to Burray, Shapinsay would then be required to enter the play-offs, the first legs of which have already been played.

The case of a Stromness man convicted of a double rape has been used to highlight concerns over the granting of bail in Scotland.

Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie raised the issue at First Minister's Question Time, criticising the legal system that allowed Robert Stanger to be released on bail.

Stanger was released on bail after being charged with his first rape. Then, six months later, whilst at liberty, he committed the second.

Mr McLetchie said: "This is a problem that requires urgent action. The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents has said that people out on bail commit 150 crimes every day in Scotland - that's 55,000 a year."

He added: "The only effective way to protect the public is to keep those charged with serious crimes in jail."

Outline planning permission for a controversial application to site a house at Noultland in Sanday was granted by islands councillors on Thursday.

The application, from C. & C. E. B. Leslie, Lopness, had received 17 objections - at least five of which were from non-residents.

After representation from three of the objectors, councillors on the planning referrals sub-committee went with official recommendations and granted permission, subject to condition.

Ms Scanlon said that although a survey has declared that Orkney's roads need less maintenance than most Scottish councils, she had received complaints regarding the damage to some roadside walls, and felt that OIC should address this issue.

The OIC had, she said, explained in its response that they "only assume responsibility for roadside walls where they retain the road, and that 'some boundary walls have not been maintained over the years by landowners, consequently becoming deteriorated."

A 35-year-old man was found guilty of supplying cannabis resin at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday afternoon.

John Ross Harrold, of Lambaness, Kirkwall, had denied supplying the drug, but the jury found him guilty by majority.

Sentence was deferred until October 6 for background reports. Harrold was remanded in custody.

A motorcyclist from Westray has been fined £700 and banned from driving for two years.

William Thomas McCracken, 36, of Lastigar, Westray, was arrested for drink-driving in Kirkwall in the early hours of Wednesday morning, shortly after disembarking the ferry from Aberdeen.

McCracken had recently completed a charity motorcycle run from Land's End to John o' Groats.

Twelve-year-old Kirstin Fairnie's song Drifting Isle was chosen from 800 entries to the Burnsong competition.

The winning songs will be performed on St Andrews Day in Dumfries at Burnsong - Live! - Scotland's first festival of song.

The proposed new air ambulance helicopter at Kirkwall Airport

A number of concerns about the proposed air ambulance helicopter in Orkney have been confirmed by the ongoing trial, islands councillors heard on Tuesday.

A paper expressing several worries is being prepared by officials from the OIC development department for forwarding to the Scottish Air Ambulance Service and Orkney MSP Jim Wallace.

The SAS propose that from April 1, 2006, air ambulance services in Orkney will no longer be provided by a locally-based Islander plane, but by a helicopter based in Inverness.

The health board is looking for applications from a wide range of people with "an interest in public service" and who are "committed to the NHS".

The successful applicant will spend about eight hours a week on NHS Board business, some of which may be in the evenings and at weekends.

Appointments are made for four years in the first instance and remuneration is £4,090 per annum plus travel and subsistence allowances.

The Orkney Heritage Society has announced this year’s Laura Grimond Awards.

Awards went to the Westray Parish Kirk, Upper Housegarth, Quoyloo, Sandwick, and the Sebay Mill, Toab.

The Westray Care Centre; Murrayfield, Finstown; Gunn's Close, Kirkwall; Corks, Marwick and The Smithy, South Ronaldsay were all highly commended. The Inn, Holm was commended.

The awards aim to encourage, promote and recognise building and renovation work that retains and enhances the character of old Orkney buildings.

A tanker crewman was taken to Kirkwall's Balfour Hospital on Tuesday after injuring his hand.

The cook sliced off part of a finger while working in the galley of the Norwegian ship, Tove Knutsen, lying in Scapa Flow.

He was taken by launch to Scapa pier and transferred by ambulance to the hospital. The man was returned to his ship later in the day.

Members of the policy and resources committee meeting recommended the creation of a new extension to house the music department, a waiting area for visitors, extra accommodation and storage space and improvements to security.

OIC convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan said he was concerned about the additional annual revenue cost implications of £45,000.

However, assurances were given by education department officials that compensatory savings would be found to deal with the rise.

An artist's impression of one of the potential redevelopments for Stromness

An exhibition showcasing potential redevelopments for Stromness is under way in the town.

The plans focus on potential changes that could be brought to the pierhead and old auction mart site.

The exhibition in the Old Ferry Terminal is to allow public feedback on the options for redevelopment and gauge opinion on any other potential redevelopment opportunities in the town.

The display closes at 4pm on Friday.

Councillor Roderick McLeod

A warning from the Scottish Executive regarding the use of revenue obtained from council tax on second homes in the county has been described as "insulting" by Kirkwall councillor Roderick McLeod.

The policy and resources committee heard on Tuesday that if the council does not spend the extra cash to the "satisfaction" of the Executive, government cash would subsequently be withheld from the OIC.

The additional revenue generated from Orkney's 700 or so second home, or empty property owners, is estimated to be in the region of £160,000.

Backed by fellow members, OIC convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan, suggested that some of this money should go into water and sewerage infrastructure.

The St Magnus Cross - Orkney's unofficial flag.

An official flag for Orkney was one of the subjects before the OIC's policy and resources committee this week.

Although the red "St Magnus Cross" on a yellow background is widely used across the county, in 2001 the Lord Lyon King of Arms decreed the design, which was "created" in 1994, could not be officially recognised as it was already associated with Ireland's Kingdom of Ulster.

As a result, councillors agreed to a community consultation to try and come up with a design for an offical replacement flag.

Archive story: Oh dear - Orkney's flag is Irish!

Michael Robert Scott Budge, 17, of Kirklands Road, Kirkwall, made no plea. The case was continued until Wednesday.

Also appearing from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon was John Montgomery, Hamnavoe, Stromness.

The 47-year-old was charged with behaving in a disorderly manner and damaging a vehicle after being refused a lift in Stromness. He is also accused of conducting himself in a disorderly manner in Kirkwall Police Station on Sunday night.

Montgomery pleaded not guilty to all charges and a trial diet was set for November 30.

The public can visit the centre, at the Sanday school, between 12pm and 3pm to take advantage of a number of special offers.

Centres in Shapinsay and St Margaret's Hope opened earlier this year with further facilities planned for North Walls, Stronsay, Rousay and Westray.

Daniel Jervis Martell made no plea or declaration and was released on bail.

The assault was alleged to have taken place on September 13.

The approval is a significant step in the process towards the title "University of the Highlands and Islands" and will be followed by a period of scrutiny by assessors.

Orkney College is part of the UHI Millennium Institute.

One male is due to stand trial for a serious assault, and another separate case will see a man appear on drugs charges.

A police spokesman confirmed that a "significant" amount of suspected drugs were recovered from the property in Main Street.

Five officers were involved in the raid, which saw a man and a woman arrested. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.

The winners of this year's Orkney Quality Food and Drink awards were named at a gala dinner in Finstown on Saturday.

They are:

• Best evening meal: Kirkwall Hotel
• Best lunch/high tea: The Smithy, Shapinsay;
• Best take-away: Peppermill Deli, Kirkwall
• Best retailer: The Dounby Butcher
• Best supplier: Orkney Meat

The Crown Estate is to initiate a review of the way its charges fish and shellfish farmers around the coast of Scotland.

The Crown Estate owns the seabed out to the 12 nautical mile limit and charges fish and shellfish farmers who want to anchor their cages, long lines or other equipment in the UK’s coastal waters.

But the current system for charging salmon farmers - based on future projections of production levels - is complex and hard to follow, so they are to use the opportunity presented by a planned review in 2008 to find a simpler and more transparent charging system.

Elaine Grieve

Orkney Islands Council has appointed its new assistant chief executive to replace Malcolm Burr, who is leaving for the Western Isles next month.

Elaine Grieve, currently the OIC's assistant director of education (children's services) was appointed on Friday, after two days of interviews at the council offices in Kirkwall.

Ms Grieve has worked for the OIC since 1978, when she became a class teacher at Papdale Primary School, moving on to become head teacher at Stromness Primary School in 1988.

She took up her current post in 1998.

A Stromness man has been convicted of raping two women.

The jury sitting at the High Court in Inverness, returned majority guilty verdicts against Robert Stanger, 37, who stood trial accused of raping the first woman at Ness Battery, Stromness, on July 16 last year, and the second at the Bay of Skaill, Sandwick on January 14 this year.

Social inquiry and risk assessment reports were ordered and Stanger will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on October 7.