The former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy MP, was in Orkney at the weekend.

Millions of pounds due to Orkney farmers could be delayed by six months, or more, next year, the farmers union have warned.

NFU Scotland’s chief executive, Andy Robertson, said any delay to the annual payments under the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS) would affect the whole rural community.

Under the scheme, farmers in areas disadvantaged in some way, receive a per-hectare payment, aimed at ensuring continued agricultural activity and maintaining viable rural communities.

The Big Tree in Kirkwall is one of a number of “remarkable and historical” trees found in a new book - Heritage Trees of Scotland.

The tree, standing in Kirkwall’s Albert Street, is a well known local landmark as Orkney's windswept environment means that few trees can survive or grow to any appreciable size.

The tree is now several centuries old and has recently spouted new growth.

Orkney was the wettest place in Britain on Thursday, experiencing more than half the month's average rainfall in a 24-hour period.

According to the Met Office, 84.6mm, just over three inches, of rain fell on Thursday, compared to the monthly October average of 140mm.

In the wake of Thursday’s severe flooding, the OIC's environmental health department has issued advise for those involved in the ongoing clean-up.

The Millburn in full flow on Thursday, which ended up damaging the bridge. (Picture Barry Jones)

An OIC engineer has been in Hoy today, assessing the damage to the Millbrig, which was damaged in Thursday ’s flood.

The damage to the bridge has temporarily severed the vehicular link between the north and south of Hoy.

Brian Thomson, OIC director of technical services, said there were several options available to the council.

A new service to help people with disabilities, and other support needs, find work was launched in Kirkwall this afternoon.

Employability Orkney aims to match disadvantaged people with job opportunities across the county.

Many thanks to all those took took time to send in pictures of the effects of Thursday's storm.

We were, if you'll pardon the pun, flooded with photographs, with well over 100 e-mails.

In addition to those already on the website, there'll be a selection of pictures in next week's paper.

Orkney was picking up the pieces on Friday after one of the worst cases of flooding to hit the county in living memory.

Most main roads were open again by Friday morning although Kirkwall's Junction Road remains closed. A number of households were still without power and the bridge at Millburn in Hoy was washed away.

All schools, bar Papdale Primary, Glaitness Primary, Kirkwall Grammar School and the Shapinsay school, reopened and ferry travel was running to schedule.

After a day of torrential rain and flooding, all roads to the West Mainland were closed on Wednesday afternoon for safety reasons.

All other main roads are open, apart from the airport road, and police were strongly advising motorists trying to get home not to drive and instead to stay with friends or relatives.

Click here for our flood galleries.

A strike by Orkney Coaches’ bus drivers has been averted – although perhaps only temporarily.

Although the majority of drivers voted in favour of a strike over pay conditions, following meetings with management and union representatives, the threat of industrial action has “been removed for the moment”.

Another meeting has been scheduled for Friday, November 3.

Orkney GP, Dr Garry Mearns, has been suspended by the General Medical Council's Interim Orders Panel.

The Rousay GP, who it is understood has been on sick leave for several months, may not practise as a doctor until April 22, 2008.

A statement from NHS Orkney said: "³We are aware, but have not received final written confirmation, that one of our independent contracted GPs has had their registration with the GMC temporarily suspended pending a GMC investigation."

Interim cover for the island will continue to be provided in his absence, the statement added.

Thirty schoolchildren escaped unhurt after their bus left the road in Stromness on Wednesday.

The bus driver made unsuccessful attempts to get the vehicle back on the road, near Seatter Farm, but the bus tilted and slipped further into the ditch.

The children were heading for destinations in Evie, Costa and Birsay, and were transferred to second bus.

The development of two North Sea oil fields looks set to boost the volume of oil handled by the Flotta Oil Terminal, extending its working life.

Terminal operators, Talisman Energy (UK) Limited, plans to develop the Duart field, 116 miles north-east of Aberdeen, and redevelop the Galley field. It is anticipated the initial production rates will exceed 6,000 barrels of oil a day.

If the Department of Trade and Industry give the plans the go-ahead, it will extend the life of the Flotta terminal, where volumes have been dropping as other fields wind down.

Work began this week on filming the Orkney scenes for a new two-hour documentary on Orcadian hero Dr John Rae (pictured right).

Based on Ken McGoogan’s book Fatal Passage, the documentary will be screened by the BBC, and by the History Channel in Canada.

Victoria Street in Stromness will be closed at various times over the next week, to allow filming in the area of the Pier Arts Centre.

Film-maker John Walker was in Orkney in June 2005 to do preliminary work for the documentary, which will push the case that John Rae discovered the Northwest Passage.

Northern Isles MP, Alistair Carmichael, has hit out at plans to cut the State Veterinary Service’s budget by £3 million.

The service is responsible for monitoring animal diseases.

He said: “When you think that the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak cost the public sector over £3 billion and the private sector more than £5 billion to make these cuts simply does not make sense.”

Following an appeal in September, the OIC has been successful in recruiting a lollipop man for the busy junction at the top of Kirkwall’s Clay Loan.

Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace, has asked the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, to meet him and OIC representatives, to discuss the current elderly care crisis in Orkney.

Mr Wallace will also be raising the issue at Question Time this Thursday afternoon. His question is: “To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of local authority requirements for residential care places for elderly people between now and 2014”.

He plans to use his supplementary question to raise the particular Orkney issues.

NorthLink is aiming to increase ferry use this winter by running promotions between November and March. But the company is also suspending its overnight cabin service out of Stromness.

The promotional deals include a reduced price under the cabin-share scheme, which will lower the cost of a bed in a shared, four-berth cabin from £18 to £13

The Pentland Firth route will see a special fare for visitors departing Scrabster of £110 return for a car and two passengers.

Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen has unveiled an £8 million fund to support marine energy projects using EMEC in Stromness.

Mr Stephen made the announcement at a major renewable energy convention in Beijing, where a number of Scottish energy companies are exhibiting their technology in China for the first time ever.

He told the international audience: “I am determined to continue to build momentum in marine energy.

A research project developed by an Orkney-based archaeologist has resulted in a grant of £84,582 being awarded to the UHI Millennium Institute.

ESSENCE  - The Scottish Centre of Excellence for Northern Cultural Environments - was created by Dr Jane Downes, senior lecturer in archaeology at Orkney College, and aims to examine the role of Scotland in leading archaeological research into cultural environments of the North Atlantic.

The Rotary Club of Orkney has confirmed that arrangements are well in hand for their annual Bonfire Night celebrations at Pickaquoy.

This year’s event will be held on Saturday, November 4, with the bonfire lit at 7.30pm.

Kirkwall’s Broad Sheet should not be pedestrianised. That was one of the recommendations to come out of a special meeting of the Kirkwall Community Council on Monday night.

The meeting was called to discuss the OIC’s proposals for traffic management in the town centre.

The proposals, which include one-way systems, pedestrianisation and additional roundabouts, were all discussed in detail, with a raft of recommendations to be put back to the OIC.

The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness is launching a project to get young people involved in the gallery before it reopens to the public next spring.

Entitled ‘Pier Group’, the project is aimed at 16/17-year-olds with an interest in the visual arts, who would be interested in the galley’s work and exhibition programme.

Education Development Officer, Carol Dunbar said: “Over a three month period, from December through to February, we are planning a series of workshops that will include practical sessions, artists’ and gallery talks, and studio visits.

Two youths have been remanded in custody, and another released on bail, following two separate vandalism attacks at the weekend.

Appearing at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday, Michael Robert Scott Budge, Kirklands Road, Kirkwall, and Lee Dunnett, of King Harald Kloss, Kirkwall, admitted vandalising a flat in Glaitness Park at the weekend.

They also pleaded guilty to breaking into, and seriously damaging, the Boys’ Brigade Hall, along with a 16-year-old accomplice, who can’t be named for legal reasons.

A false alarm saw the Kirkwall lifeboat launched at the weekend.

A member of the public made a 999 call to the Coastguard at 8.30am on Sunday morning, believing there was a boat on fire off Rendall.

A Coastguard spokesman said: “It was actually the coastguard tug Anglian Sovereign starting up the engine, with smoke coming from the tunnel. The deck lights were on and shining quite brightly.”

The UHI Millennium Institute (UHI) has announced that it anticipates that attaining university title will take longer than expected. However, the organisation, which includes Orkney College, remains confident of a successful outcome.

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has decided that more time needs to be taken on the route to the creation of the University of the Highlands and Islands.

A 37-year-old man has been charged with shoplifting twice on the same day in Kirkwall.

He allegedly took alcohol from Somerfield, Pickaquoy Road, at 9.45am on Saturday, and then again in the evening from the Co-op, Pickaquoy Road.

An Orkney resident was killed in a road accident in England on Friday.

John Suthers, 34, died after his vehicle lost control and collided with another vehicle in East Lancashire.

A 16-year-old girl has been charged with driving a “disabled buggy” while drunk.

The youth, together with a 15-year-old girl, allegedly stole the electric vehicle from Glaitness Park. They were traced to Pickaquoy Road by police on Saturday.

The 16-year-old has also been charged with other road traffic offences and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal and the children’s reporter.