The BBC television programme Holiday, which will feature Orkney as a destination is due to be broadcast on Monday, February 7.

The programme makers were in the county in September 2004, where they filmed extensively in Westray, Kirkwall's Fusion and the Sebay Mill in Tankerness.

The programme airs at 7pm.

The Safeway/Morrison store on Pickaquoy Road is one of more than one hundred across the UK taken over by the leading high street retailer.

Orkney Housing Association's latest Kirkwall development opened its doors to the public on Saturday.

The open day at Somerville Square, a housing development on the the site of the former North Eastern Farmers shop, ran from 11am until 3pm.

This was revealed at the housing committee meeting on Thursday, after being raised by Orkney's vice-convener, Councillor Sinclair Scott.

Assistant director of housing, John Richards, confirmed: "We should conduct investigations within 30 days. If they have a mental health problem they have a right to permanent housing."

He added that the relevant checks would be carried out as to whether the person had a British national insurance number, or if they were an asylum seeker or refugee.

The number of registered childminders in Orkney is on the increase - alleviating a crisis for working parents.

Adrian Williams, Orkney's assistant director children and families and criminal justice, said the rise was due to a number of initiatives set out in recent development plans.

'Numbers of new and existing childminders have risen slightly over this review year largely due to increased promotional efforts, and recruitment and support initiatives.'

It is unlikely that Orkney Islands Council will discriminate against "outsiders" buying homes in the county.

The controversial subject locally has been prompted by moves in the Yorkshire Dales to tackle the shortage of affordable housing for local people. A scheme to ensure that new homes in the dales will be reserved for local folk moved a step closer last week.

OIC assistant director of housing, John Richards, recognised that in Orkney locals are now finding it very difficult to purchase property, but rather than discriminate against certain groups he feels the solution lies in having the correct number of properties available in the first place.

The Rural Development Minister has identified 20 areas which currently suffer disadvantage in service provision, access to services and subsequently, opportunities.

The designation of Rural Services Priority Area (RSPA) status will enable government, local authorities and other agencies to focus improvements in services in the most disadvantaged rural communities.

This could result in innovative solutions to providing, for example, health care, training or childcare services.

A presentation of the money raised by the Jim Sinclair memorial concert last year was made to Macmillan Orkney in Matchmakers on Thursday night.

The committee, made up of Jim’s family and close friends, managed to raise £10,000 at the concert held in the Pickaquoy Centre. More than 900 people gathered to pay tribute to the music promoter who brought Orkney The Indians and Manson Grant and the Dynamos.

A rebuilt stone dyke outside the new Dounby care home has been described as a "monumental cock-up".

Jim Foubister was speaking at Tuesday's planning meeting, regarding a boundary wall, which will block the view of care home residents.

"This must be a monumental cock-up," Councillor Foubister said. "They took the original dyke down, which was the right height, and put in an artificially high dyke and now we are being told it has to be taken down in height to the same as the old one."

Councillor Ian MacDonald accused three OIC departments of failing to talk to each other.

Councillors agreed to make a site visit.

The number of people presenting as homeless to the housing authority in Orkney is set to reach over 200 for the first time.

The number was revealed in a report which came before members of the social work and housing committee on Thursday.

An extensive review of all homelessness policies and procedures is currently being undertaken prior to an inspection of the housing service by Communities Scotland.

A Kirkwall man has been sentenced to seven and a half months in prison for an incident described as "shocking".

Appearing at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Laurence Stanley James Pirie, 38, of Strombery, Kirkwall, admitted assaulting a woman and committing a breach of the peace while on probation on January 3.

At the time of the assault, Pirie was still completing a year's probation for assaulting his wife on January 11, 2004.

Fire inspections at care homes and supported accommodation in Orkney has identified nine establishments that require outstanding major works.

The work includes upgrading fire detection systems, fitting sprinkler systems and putting in swing free arms to bedroom doors which are activated by fire alarms.

However, councillors at today’s social work meeting heard that no funding has been identified and a report has to be sent to the policy and resources committee.

The timescales allowed to complete the recommendations ranges from two to five years.

Gama will operate two helicopters from Glasgow and Inverness and two planes from Aberdeen and Glasgow. These will be further supported by a helicopter based in Shetland.

Among the public concerns the SAS consider "misinformed" are the claims that the current Islander aircraft have a faster response time and that bad weather will affect the new operation.

The controversial Enyas Hill wind turbine project in Rendall was put on hold on Wednesday, after councillors decided to defer a decision until an OIC wind turbine strategy is put in place.

Nearly 150 residents have signed a petition in protest at the plans to build three generators, a sub station and access tracks in the area. Fifteen letters of objection have been received by the OIC planning department, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has expressed concerns, but Scottish Natural Heritage has withdrawn their original objections.

Councillor for Evie and Rendall, Jimmy Moar, moved for the project to be refused but failed to attract backing.

Members of the OIC development and planning committee have agreed to grant planning permission for a third pub in the parish of Orphir.

David and Ann Hewison plan to extend and convert part of the property, known as the Noust, in Orphir village, to a public house.

Objections had been made by the parish minister, Rev Tom Clark, and the owners of the two current licensed premises, at the Scorrabrae and Houton Bay Lodge.

Robert Hamish Stanger, 37, of Pumpwell Park, Stromness, appeared at Kirkwall Sheriff Court in private on Tuesday. He has been in custody since January 14.

There was no plea or declaration and Stanger was remanded in custody.

The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness could face funding cuts from Orkney Islands Council.

The move came after councillors at Tuesday's recreation and cultural services committee decided that ring-fenced funding of £20,000 should be added to a communal fund of £9,000, which is handed out based on an application process.

Councillor Ann Sutherland said: "I am bit concerned about ring-fencing for the Pier Arts Centre, if something else comes up we think might need support, if we tie this up for ever more, it might stop something else going ahead."

Orkney looks set to make a bid to host the International Island Games in 2013, after councillors at the OIC's recreation and cultural services committee agreed in principle to the idea.

Recent improvements to sport facilities and proposed upgrading of squash, indoor bowls and swimming areas, could add weight to any bid which is lodged, according to the report presented to the committee.

Members also agreed to send a delegation to this year's games, which are taking place in Shetland at a cost of £1.5million.

A circus could be part of this year's Stromness Shopping Week, after councillors agreed to grant permission to allow a visiting circus to set up on OIC land.

Recreation and cultural services committee members had been asked to give the green light to the Cottle and Austen Electric Circus setting up at the southern end of the Market Green.

The circus performances are described as “a youthful, high-energy electrifying entertainment, with circus acts from every part of the world.”

Firefighters were called out on Monday night to tackle a house fire in Longhope.

Local volunteer firefighters, assisted by the Stromness Fire Brigade, were alerted around 5pm, when the owner of the property returned to find ablaze.

The house sustained considerable smoke and fire damage, with smoke damage also affecting a neighbouring property.

Convener Stephen Hagan said: "This is an honest account of what we do well, where we need to improve, our achievements so far and our planned improvements for the future. We hope Orkney residents will find it of interest."

Anyone wanting a copy of the report should contact the OIC on 01856 873535.

A leaflet containing a summary of the report is also to be produced and distributed in The Orcadian in early February.

Doubts have been cast over the future of the band nights in the OIC run Cavern youth cafe in Kirkwall, following a major disturbance on Saturday night.

Sergeant Jim Pryde said that police were called by the cafe staff about the "disgraceful" conduct of youths, both inside and outside the premises.

He added: "There was between 70 and 100 youths out on Broad Street. Alcohol was taken from several. Most notably, the elderly residents of the nearby Castleyards were quite frightened by what was going on."

Police are now liaising with the OIC regarding the future of the event.

A report is being submitted to the procurator fiscal after a road accident in Sanday in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Citroen vehicle left the road and struck a dyke. According to police, the male driver suffered a broken arm and was treated by the local doctor.

The Hebridean Isles arriving in Stromness on Monday morning.

NorthLink's Pentland Firth ferry, Hamnavoe, went out of service on Monday to allow for its annual maintenance in Denmark.

The vessel will be out of service from Monday, January 24, until Thursday, February, 3, with the MV Hebridean Isles, on charter from Caledonian MacBrayne, standing-in to operate the Stromness-Scrabster route.

Mary Allison, Scotland's Physical Activity Co-ordinator, joined locals in a position to support and influence the future shape of physical activity in Orkney.

The national target is 30 minutes of moderate exercise on five or more days per week. According to the Orkney Lifestyle Survey 2001, only around half of Orkney's population are achieving this, with men more likely to meet the target than women.

Young people's views are being sought on local housing issues.

OIC care worker, Catherine Grivas, is compiling a study into the housing needs of youngsters, aged between 16 and 25. She would like to speak to any youngster, whether living at home, in private rent or council accommodation.

"I'm interested in finding out the opinions of young people about housing in Orkney regardless of whether they live on the isles, have special needs or are settled in long-term accommodation.

For more information or to get your views across to Catherine, contact Camoran on 873135, by the end of February.

The Safeway/Morrison store on Pickaquoy Road is one of more than one hundred across the UK taken over by the leading high street retailer.

Kirkwall staff will be working tirelessly to ensure the rebranding and restocking can be completed within the three and a half day time slot.

The former mart site in Stromness

Work to dismantle the former West Mainland Mart drew to a close on Friday, with all that is left on the site now are piles of blocks and sheets of cladding material ready for disposal.

When the mart and contents were auctioned last year, farmer Jim Foubister of Deerness, successfully bid £4,800 for the cattle shed section.