People are invited along to Scapa tomorrow between 2pm and 3pm to see the arrival of explorer, Chris Cooper in his 42ft canoe, Spirit Dancer.

He will be completing the Orkney leg of his circumnavigation of the British Isles.

He said on his website yesterday: "We have abandoned the crossing of Pentland Firth due to a lack of a support vessel.

"The canoe is booked onto the ferry for Friday, July 3, at 8.45am leaving from Scrabster and arriving in Stromness at 10.15am. We hope to paddle Spirit Dancer from Stromness to Kirkwall on the southside to Scapa Flow."

Volunteers are also being sought to help carry the canoe from Scapa into Kirkwall tomorrow afternoon.

Orkney runner, Mags Macrae has claimed another medal for Orkney at the Natwest Island Games in Aland. 

The athlete took the bronze in the women’s 200m last night, July 2, finishing with a time of 25.46 seconds. 

Jersey’s Jemma Dawkins took the gold with a time of 25.08seconds, while silver went to Harriet Pryke of the Isle of Man, with a time of 25.20.

Mags’ success takes Orkney’s medal total to six. 

Orkney's Jim Middlemas in action. (Picture: Rae Slater)

Orkney have struck gold in their medal hunt at the Natwest Island Games in Aland.

The archery team defeated the Faroe Islands 214-209 in the final heat of Thursday's compound head to head team knockout competition.

The Orkney team — consisting of Alan Bowmer, Ian Kennedy, Jim Middlemas, Stewart Stanger and Norah Bowmer — beat Shetland, who picked up the bronze medal, in the semi-finals.

It is Orkney's fifth medal of the tournament, following their silver success in the sporting team shoot and womens' shot putt.

Bronze medals have also been achieved in the single FITA mens' archery compound competition and the mens' automatic ball trap final.

Kirkwall's Black Building is almost certainly going to be demolished following Historic Scotland's decision not to list or schedule the premises.

Ken Hambly, who has fought to save the former World War Two fighter command control centre, and the chief executive of Orkney Islands Council, Alistair Buchan, have been advised of Historic Scotland's assessment.

Mr Hambly said: "That is the end of the Black Building. We did our best, and I still think we are right."

A statement from the council said: "The council is considering the content of the letter (from Historic Scotland) and will be advising its next step in the near future."

Voluntary Action Orkney is looking for the help of teenagers in designing a logo for their new Connect project.

The project is aimed at 16 to 19 year olds and has been designed in collaboration with local organisations, with the aim of giving young people skills and confidence to achieve their goals and contribute positively to the community.

Entry forms for the logo competition are available from VAO and Careers Scotland. The deadline for entries is July 8, with the winner being announced at the official opening of the project, on July 10.

Part of Berstane Road in Kirkwall was closed on Wednesday afternoon following a gas leak.

Two fire units from Kirkwall attended the scene and cordoned off a section around the affected property.

A spokesman from Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service stressed, however, that there had been no explosion.

"There was a fault between a gas cylinder and an appliance it had been supplying. We closed off the main valve and stopped the leak.

"We will remain in attendance until the gas which leaked has been dispersed; that will be at least another hour."

Police have confirmed the identity of the body found on the island of Sanday as that of Mr Robert Rose.

Mr Rose's family have been informed.

Orkney's medal tally has risen to four at the 2009 Natwest Island Games, after achieving a silver and bronze in shot putt and archery events on Tuesday.

Claire Wilson threw 11.04 metres to come second in the final heat of the womens' shot putt. It is the latest sporting achievement for the Sanday teenager, fresh from breaking records in the North Isles sports and the Junior Inter-County tournaments.

Meanwhile, archer Stewart Stanger claimed a bronze in the single FITA mens' compound competition.

It follows the silver success in the sporting team shoot, and the bronze medal achieved in the mens' automatic ball trap final.

Orkney Islands Council's marine services is to launch its new website on July 6.

The site, which retains its current address www.orkneyharbours.com has been reorganised to make information easier to find.

Information on the site is divided into two main areas.

The operations section details the general maintenance and utilisation of the piers and harbours, waste management, health and safety requirements and vessel tracking systems.

The business development section is the gateway for services which bring income into the council, such as cruise ship services, ship-to-ship oil transfer management, towage services and links to inter-island ferry services and timetables.

Orkney has won another medal at the Natwest Island Games in Aland — the second piece of silverware in three days.

Shooters Brian Foreman and Magnus Norquoy shot 144 to scoop the bronze in Tuesday's men's automatic ball trap final.

It complements the silver medal won by Brian Foreman, Derek Firth and Alan Clouston in the final of the mens sporting team shoot on Sunday.