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Election officials are keeping a eye on the weather forecast as gale force winds affect parts of the Western Isles.

Bad weather could hold up the vote count taking place in the Lewis Sports Centre tonight.

Ballot boxes are due to be transported by boat and chartered plane when voting in the Scottish parliamentary elections ends at 10pm tonight.

The Met Office said: "Low pressure over the northeastern Atlantic will bring strong to gale force winds for a time across northern areas, and across northwestern Scotland today in particular."

High winds resulted in the Harris ferry being stormbound.

A spokesman for Malcom Burr, returning officer for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, said: "We are keeping an eye on the weather and hope things go-ahead as planned. There is a contingency plan in place."

 

Ballot boxes from the two polling stations in Barra are due to be transported across the Sound of Barra to Eriskay.

They will be driven to Balivanich Airport where the 22 boxes from between Eriskay and Berneray will also be loaded onto a hire aircraft for the flight to Stornoway.

If required, in case of bad weather or plane breakdown, a fast boat will be called in to transfer ballot boxes to Harris.

 

Election officials check forecasts as gale affects islands

 

5 May 2016