Firefighters were called out late on Monday night to the blaze at the house near Walls.

A blast of wintry weather which closed 180 schools on Monday will extend across the whole of Scotland.

The Scottish Secretary is to meet council leaders over proposals for four tunnels linking the islands.

Members of the policy and resources committee were unanimous in their bank holiday decision.

Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles are to benefit from government investment over 10 years.

Extra engineers are due to arrive on the ferry from Aberdeen to help restore power to 2,800 homes.

About 2,000 homes on Shetland are without power on a day when temperatures in Braemar peaked at -9.3C.

Andrea Manson is the new convenor while Emma Macdonald takes up the role of political leader.