Flannan mystery remembered

Flannan Lighthouse is now remote controlled

A one-minute silence is to be observed in memory of three lighthouse keepers who disappeared without trace 100 years ago.

The mystery of the men of Flannan Isle is one of the most puzzling in Scottish maritime history

Northern Lighthouse Board is due to pay tribute to the men on Friday, in what is believed to be 100 years to the day since the men vanished.

The islands lie in the Atlantic, 15 miles west of the Isle of Lewis.

The Flannan lighthouse, 70m above sea level, was completed in 1899, a year before the tragedy.

Untouched meal

Passing ships noted it was lit on the night of 14 December, but out the following evening.

A subsequent search by a landing party found an untouched meal on the table, a toppled chair and two sets of oilskins missing.

The third was hanging on its usual hook.

Upstairs, a canary was starving on its perch and the lighthouse log and work notes for two days were on a slate.

There was no trace of the men and it was assumed they had been swept away by a freak wave.

The one-minute silence will be held at the moment in which the last entry was made in the head keeper's log.