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Watch a very close encounter with orcas in Lerwick

A pod of orcas has caused a stir by swimming up alongside onlookers at the Lerwick waterfront in Shetland.

The beautiful animals were spotted just outside of the Shetland Museum and Archives on Friday.

The orcas had been seen in the waters all around the town, chasing seals and at one point an otter.

3 days ago

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Dr Peter Mackay in a light shirt and tweed jacket, leaning on a pillar of the Central Library in Edinburgh. He is looking at the camera

First Gaelic poet appointed Scotland's Makar

Police officer in black protective suit and helmet stands in a dooraway, lit by orange glow, side-on to camera.

Moment police force entry to house in drugs raid

Glasgow & West Scotland

The Scottish comedian died on 2 November at the age of 63

Colourful funeral held for Janey Godley in Glasgow

Glasgow & West Scotland

Order of Service for the memorial service to Alex Salmond, with a photo of him in a suit.

Alex Salmond remembered at St Giles' memorial

A composite image of a police vehicle on Skye and BBC reporter Iain Macinnes

Isle of Skye murder case: How did the attacks unfold?

Young farmer Nicola Wordie stands in a cattle shed wearing a black headband, red hoodie and black jacket.

A day in my life as a young farmer as the industry protests

NE, Orkney & Shetland

The first minister said he believed in solving problems "from the bottom up"

Swinney seeks to understand 'barriers to progress'

Scotland Politics

Kelpie

Climbing inside a Kelpie's head

Tayside & Central Scotland

Gillian Smart wears a pink shirt with black and turquoise pattern. She presents the weather in front of a green screen which shows low pressure over Scotland.

Scotland weather forecast as Storm Bert brings high winds

Charlie Elphinstone looks in a mirror to put on black bowler hat, he wears glasses, a white shirt, dark tie and suit and is surrounded by a military uniform and antique ornaments

My interest in antiques is a comfort from ear pain

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Phone footage of a skate surfacing out of grey waves to a rigid inflatable boat.ttack the side of a inflatable

Watch the moment a skate attacks a fisherman's boat off Shetland

NE, Orkney & Shetland

BBC Scotland weather presenter Christopher Blanchett in front of a weather map of Scotland showing snow warnings.

Watch the Storm Bert weather forecast for Scotland

The Glen Sannox ferry on the water during trials.

Watch: The Glen Sannox ferry saga in two minutes

Glasgow & West Scotland

BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell lying on the ground with a blue beanie hat and wrapped in a silver blanket

‘I wanted to show what having a seizure was like’

Weather presenter Christopher Blanchett standing in front of a large-scale photograph of wintry conditions

Weather forecast: First taste of winter in Scotland

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

Flynn: Reaction to 2026 Holyrood bid 'not pleasant'

Pudsey the bear with a colourful polkadot bandage over one eye standing with three children in front of a small blue and white plane on the Fair Isle landing strip.

Pudsey flies in to meet children on Fair Isle

NE, Orkney & Shetland

A shoplifter with face blurred gathers up a bundle of green gloves with furry lining from a shelf in a clothes shop.

Moment Royal Mile thief stuffs gloves into his trousers

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Neil Gray said he is "committed" to the plan and the government is "considering all options."

Neil Gray insists commitment to National Care Service

Scotland Politics

Olivia Gallosi is on the left and has brown hair, a yellow jumper and a brown jacket. She has headphones around her neck and a rucksack on her back. Roni Sharp is on the right and is wearing a purple jumper and has a pink bag on her shoulder. There are buildings in the background.

Edinburgh University students tell of discrimination on campus

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Otter in water in Shetland

️The orphaned otter that is now part of the family

A man's bond with orphaned otter becomes a movie hit️.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Oyster farmer Winston Brown eating an oyster from its shell in white oyster packing plant room.

Shetland oysters back on the market after 130 years

A family-run croft in Shetland has made history by exporting oysters for what is thought to be the first time in more than130 years.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Jim McColl wears a tweed cap and green jacket and jumper with a checked shirt. He stands in front of a Beechgrove Gardens sign.

Watch: 40 years of Jim McColl on Beechgrove Garden

Former Beechgrove Garden presenter and "Scottish national treasure" Jim McColl has died aged 89.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Emma Wassell, wearing a Scotland rugby hoodie, smiling at the camera

'I've had difficult moments but my rugby family was always there'

Scotland rugby internationalist Emma Wassell has told how her "family" of teammates cared for her through tumour surgery months after her mother died.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Wendy says she lost consciousness twice, vomited and asked for the procedure to be stopped

Hysteroscopy felt like insides were being 'clawed'

Wendy McLean took over-the-counter pain killers before the procedure at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Primary class

Meet the primary school class who are all boys

A primary school on Orkney is starting its new P1 class with and intake of only boys.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Explosion during rocket launch test

Moment rocket engine explodes in Shetland

No-one was injured in the explosion and the launch pad is "saved and is secured".

NE, Orkney & Shetland

The prison museum opened in 2016, after the prison closed in 2013.

How would you react to prison museum's 'dark tourism'?

Visitors have been filmed for the project to track their reaction to the museum's exhibits.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Bagpiper and ponies

Swiss bagpiper serenades Shetland ponies

An island driver got a surprise when she came across a bagpiper playing to an attentive audience of Shetland ponies.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

The stranding is thought to be the largest UK stranding since 1927

Experts arrive to examine Orkney stranded whales

Stranding expert Emma Neave-Webb said there would be some post-mortem examinations.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Whales on beach

Whales die in major stranding on Orkney beach

Dozens of whales have died on a beach in Orkney in what could be the biggest Scottish mass strandings for decades.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Man sits on a chair in a flooded street

Man goes fishing in flooded street

Heavy rain causes flooding in north east Scotland after around one month's rain fell in 24 hours.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Christine Glaser

'The Viking gene survey helped find my cancer'

A Shetland woman has been telling how a search for a gene variant alerted her to her breast cancer diagnosis.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Allan Fraser

How a kettle could help keep older people safe

AI linked to everyday items could alert family members if elderly relatives have diverted from their normal morning routine.

NE, Orkney & Shetland

MV Alfred

Watch the moment ferry grounds after captain 'falls asleep'

A total of 41 people were injured when the MV Alfred grounded on Swona on 5 July 2022.

NE, Orkney & Shetland