A new phone system is set to go live at Orkney Islands Council later this week.

Up to 360 children in Orkney will be able to benefit from 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) from this month (August), with this figure increasing to 460 following the January and April intakes

The first cruise ship to allow its double vaccinated passengers to come ashore independently is calling into Kirkwall this week.

Up to 600 passengers on board Wednesday’s cruise liner – Celebrity Silhouette – which is due to call into Kirkwall will be able to wander freely and enjoy what Orkney has to offer, whether that be the visitor sites or the local shops and businesses.

St Andrews Primary School pupil Layla Kirkness – the fourth generation and future of the Hools Shetland Pony Stud in Orkney - has been continuing her passion for ponies during the summer holidays.

Most recently, Layla, who turns 9 on 17 August – her first day back at school and into P5 – made a 1,000-mile round trip to compete for the first time at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Following the First Minister’s announcement that Scotland is moving beyond Level 0, capacity aboard Orkney Ferries’ vessels will increase from Monday August 9.