It’s been four years in the planning and expects to attract more than 500 people. This summer’s Shetland Hamefarin is set to become the event of the decade for the hundreds of visitors who are eagerly awaiting a chance to visit the land they or their forebears left.

Shetland Recreational Trust is facing a potential shortfall of £400,000 in next year’s budget if Shetland Islands Council decides it will not pay for schools’ use of leisure centres.

Lerwick’s historic town centre will shortly enjoy a facelift thanks to Scottish government funding. Shops and businesses in Lerwick’s Com mercial Street and lanes conservation area are in line to receive up 80 per cent grant funding towards im provements to their frontages, which will spruce up the area in time for the summer’s Hamefarin.

Last week former police chief Malcolm Bell appeared in one of his new roles, as honorary sheriff. It was his first venture into a dif­ferent career after the early retire­ment forced upon him by a spectacular bout of ill-health which started with a football injury.

A litter of pure-bred Shetland sheep­dog puppies has recently been born in the isles, the first for around 15 years.

Inquiries are continuing into an incident where a Flybe flight from Sumburgh to Inverness was diverted to Wick last Thursday.

Eight people are being trained this week in the art of bicycle main­tenance so that they in turn will be able to pass their skills on.

A second ambulance will be up and running in Shetland by the end of next month, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has pledged.

It looks like a cross between the heavily-glazed bridge of a ship and an ancient broch.

Breathing Space, Scotland’s phone line and website for people feeling down, anxious or depressed, celebrates its fourth annual Breathing Space Day across Scotland on Monday with the message “Open a book when you’re down”.