Police hunting a sex attacker in Orkney, are to suspend door-to-door inquiries over the Christmas period.

Acting Chief Inspector David Miller said they did not wish to disrupt people¹s festivities, although he stressed that information will continue to be gathered behind-the-scenes.

Additional police patrols continue in the Quoybanks area of Kirkwall following the attack on a 19-year-old woman on December 16.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 872241 or the confidential Crimestoppers line 870999.

More than 80 vehicles were stopped over the course of last weekend during the festive road safety campaign.

Sergeant Gordon Deans said police were "extremely pleased" to report that no evidence of drink-driving was found. He said there were a few minor defects detected.

"It is hoped that this trend will continue over the festive period and beyond," he added.

What is often regarded as the busiest weekend of the year, largely passed without incident, according to police.

Sergeant Gordon Deans said: "It was a busy weekend and there was a large number of revellers at local pubs and clubs. It was good spirited and only one male 19-year-old was arrested in Junction Road for breach of the peace on Saturday into Sunday morning.

"He was later released and issued with a fixed penalty notice," Sgt Deans added.

Staff at the OIC's technical services have given assurances that they will be on standby to deal with any icy spells over the festivities.

The department has five members of staff on duty, 24 hours a day to deal with gritting the roads.

Orkney Islands Council has featured as an example of good practice on an English Government Improvement website, thanks to the work of one employee.

Project manager from the chief executive¹s department, Gillian Morrison has spent five months writing a 20,000 word dissertation on Evaluating the Workforce Planning Challenges for Social Care in Rural and Remote Areas, working towards her MSc.

The paper also netted Gillian £500 when Nottingham Trent University chose her dissertation as the best in class.