Sanday ultra distance runner William Sichel ended his season at the weekend by competing in the "No Finish Line" 24-hour event in the Principality of Monaco. 

This was William's first visit to Monaco for this unusual, week long, event, the Monaco equivalent of Britain's "Children in Need" appeal. 

A closed circuit of 1km has been set up around the harbour in Monaco and for seven days, for every kilometre that entrants walk or run, a bank pays one euro into a children's charity.  The individual 24-hour race is then held on the final day.

A boat lying at the Kirkwall marina breakwater sank on Friday morning after being swamped by waves.

The Vega, a creel boat owned by Scapa piermaster Malcolm Foulis, sank around 8am this morning after its bilge pump failed.

The owner hopes to raise the boat when the weather calms.

The Stromness Lifeboat was launched on Thursday afternoon to attend an emergency on Flotta.

The lifeboat crew were contacted by Stromness GP, Dr Andrew Trevitt, who asked for their help to reach a patient on the island.

In heavy seas, the lifeboat reached attended the patient and were back in Stromness back 6pm.

Kirkwall harbour on Friday morning

All ferries were cancelled on Friday and all schools shut as storm force winds battered the county.

NorthLink and Orkney Ferries cancelled all their sailings, while all public service buses were also off.

All of Orkney’s schools are closed, as well as Orkney College and Grainshore training centre.

Five squads from OIC’s road services were out clearing debris, ripped off in the gales, from roads throughout Orkney.

Weather forecasters have said the worst of the weather was hitting the county this morning with winds gradually easing as the day goes on.

Mr Jim Robertson is to take over from Dr Douglas Deans as vice-chair of the NHS Orkney board.

Mr Robertson, the former chairman of the Orkney Chamber of Commerce and vice-chairman of Orkney Enterprise, narrowly beat Mrs Kath Pye, NHS Orkney's employee director, five votes to four to take the position.

Councillor Janice Annal has bowed out after four years on the board.

Kirkwall police are appealing for witnesses after a vehicle failed to stop following an accident on the Holm road on Wednesday.

It is understood a cream-coloured pickup struck another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction at 5.20pm on Wednesday night.

There were no injuries, but police are appealing for the driver, or any witnesses, to come forward.

The Cultural Studies course run from Orkney College has been named most imaginative use of distance learning in national awards.

The UHI Millennium Institute's course was named the winner at the The Times Higher Awards in London on Wednesday night.

The judges praised its scope, relevance, quality and sheer interest. One, a lecturer at Strathclyde University, said she might be tempted to enrol herself.

The course, taught using a mixture of methods, including online and videoconferencing, was described as ambitious, highly innovative and showing a love of the subject and care for the students.

Officials at NHS Orkney have given their full backing to a GP currently under investigation by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Dr John Milligan, employed as a salaried GP by NHS Orkney at the Scapa Practice, is subject to a number of restrictions imposed by the GMC interim orders panel (IOP).

According to the terms of the order - which are published on the GMC website - Dr Milligan must be supervised by fellow doctors and is only allowed to supply medication to patients in an emergency.

NHS Orkney and the GMC have declined to disclose why the order was imposed.

There is no shortage of flu vaccine in Orkney - despite national reports that GPs south are running out of stocks.

NHS Orkney's consultant in public health medicine, Dr Ken Black, said there had been an excellent response in the county to date, with more than 70 per cent of those in the "at risk" category taking up the offer of a vaccine.

However, Dr Black is urging the remainder of those groups ­ people over 65, anyone with asthma, heart, liver and lung conditions, for example ­ to contact their GPs to get their flu jabs as soon as possible for their own protection.

Extra engineers have been drafted in, and helicopters are on standby, as Scottish Hydro Electric prepares for the severe weather over the next few days.

The company expects widespread damage to the electricity network so is urging customers in Orkney to be prepared in case their supply is interrupted.

A spokesman said: "We have instigated contingency plans by moving engineers to strategic points on our network as we anticipate the blizzard conditions will make travelling difficult. Helicopters are on standby to ferry staff and materials where they're needed.”

Highland Park brand ambassador, Gerry Tosh, is pictured with the award-winning 30 Years Old expression.

Highland Park has scooped another top award in the USA, with their 30-Year-Old expression being named "import whisky of the year" in the annual Malt Advocate awards.

Around 1,700 guests gathered at the glittering awards ceremony in New York with 50 distilleries being represented.

This is the latest in a string of awards for the Orkney single malt this year, with the 30 Years Old picking up a top platinum award - with a score of 97 out of 100 - from the prestigious Chicago Beverage Tasting Institute.

Police inquiries are ongoing following a serious assault at the Stromness pierhead in the early hours of Monday morning.

The attack on a man took place between midnight and 1am on Monday and is thought to have involved three men.

Stromness Sergeant Niall MacLean said: “The man received hospital treatment for his injuries. Police are making inquiries as to who is responsible. We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident.”

Sally Inkster, Orkney Housing Association's deputy executive director, is to succeed David Murdoch as executive director from May 1, 2006.

A new £1million OIC fund for community projects took a step closer on Tuesday.

Councillors at today's OIC policy and resources committee agreed that a new fund should be created to succeed the Community Development Fund for the New Millennium.

The decision followed a vigorous debate as to whether the council could afford the new fund, considering a lack of cash is is forcing to cut back on other services.

However, members voted seven to five in favour of the fund, which will be taken from the OIC’s reserves.

Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace, has welcomed the OIC's report on the air ambulance trials in Orkney, and confirmed that the concerns it raises match those put to him by constituents.

Kirkwall police have confirmed that two teenagers have been charged following the theft of two vehicles in Stromness earlier this month.

The males have also been charged with driving document offences.

Four speeding motorists have been caught by police as part of an ongoing road safety initiative.

Two were stopped at Tormiston in Stenness, the others in Kirkwall.

Because of the speeds involved, two of the motorists have been reported to the procurator fiscal.

Farmers are being reminded that December 1 is the deadline for health plans to be produced for land management contracts (LMCs).

The health plan, which must be done in consultation with the farm vet, must be in place if farmers are to qualify for money under the animal health and welfare management option of the LMC scheme.

Almost 4,000 farmers and crofters across Scotland took up this option under the new scheme to pay farmers for taking positive steps to improve their animals, farms or the environment.

The animal health option was welcomed in Orkney, where many farmers are already members of animal health schemes.

In July, an algal bloom left many West Mainland customers unable to use the foul-tasting water - despite Scottish Water's assurances it was perfectly safe.

As well as requesting information on the standards applicable to water to ensure it is "wholesome", Mr Wallace asked the DWQRS whether Scottish Water had reported the Boardhouse problem.

He said: "I believe that my constituents have a strong moral case for compensation for the cost of the bottled water they bought. The Drinking Water Quality Regulator's reply should clarify whether they have a good legal case as well."

John Aberdein and Alison Flett are both up for the Saltire society/Royal Mail First Book of the Year Award, for their respective titles Amande's Bed and Whit Lassyz Ur Inty.

The winners will be announced on November 30.

He said: "Undoubtedly, the problem is one of recruitment. When the independent practice (in Orkney) went private, it was not as if there was a lack of support from the Government. Funding was available, but there was a problem in trying to recruit people to fill the gaps."

Replying to Mr Wallace's request for assurances of support for salaried dentists, Health Minister Andy Kerr said: "We are working assiduously on that matter."

"I assure Jim Wallace that we are listening to the professions and responding to their demands to ensure that we adequately support them."

A report published by the Orkney Islands Council suggests that a locally-based aircraft is needed to provide air ambulance cover for the county.

The Scottish Ambulance Service propose that from April 1, 2006, air ambulance services in Orkney will be provided by an Inverness-based helicopter.

But the report concludes that after the six-month trial period, "most of the concerns which the council voiced in its consultation response still remain." It adds: "It is anticipated that additional weather hindrances will occur during the winter months."

The main areas of concern are the suitability and range of the helicopter and response times.

Police have issued a stark warning to parents and children over the dangers of substance abuse.

The warning follows the discovery of a towel and dozen empty aerosols in Kirkwall on Friday afternoon.

The items were discovered in a bike shed off Junction Road, and according to PC Neil Burgess, the aerosol is sprayed onto the towel and the fumes subsequently inhaled.

"The main danger is instant death," he said, "which is an extreme reaction and can be caused by heart failure or choking."

Parents are being urged to warn their children of the risks, and be on the lookout for chemical smells, disappearing aerosols, changing sleep patterns and "drunken" behaviour.

The group serving as a voice for Orkney's tourism operators has a new team at the helm.

Leading figures from within the industry have been selected to serve as the Orkney Tourism Group's first board of directors.

Until recently it was run by a steering group, but members have now elected their first board.

NHS Orkney has been given a clean bill of health when it comes to the treatment and care of stroke patients.

The significant progress made by the health service has been reflected in a review by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS), of performance against national standards of clinical care.

The report was based on evidence submitted by NHS Orkney and a two-day visit by a review team to see the services and facilities available first-hand.

More information on QIS reports is available through the QIS website