Development jobs created to aid remote areas

ABOUT 40 jobs are to be created to help develop the most remote and fragile parts of Scotland.

The rural and island communities will bring forward locally- devised plans with the help of public agencies and 2.5 million in funding.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will work with local authorities and other bodies to create full and part-time development officer posts in 40 communities across the region.

HIE plans to spend almost 1.5m over the next three years and will also use an additional 1m from the European Union's LEADER programme and local authorities.

The first communities to benefit include the island of Rum and the Knoydart peninsula in Highland; Jura and Coll in Argyll; Cumbrae in North Ayrshire and Barra, Vatersay and Callanish in the Outer Hebrides.

The work will build on the Initiative at the Edge project which has already assisted 18 areas.