'Thousands' against Sunday ferry

A Sunday ferry already links Harris and North Uist

A petition against the introduction of Sunday sailings from Lewis has attracted almost 4,000 signatures, its organisers have claimed.

Ferry operators Caledonian MacBrayne previously confirmed it was considering seven-day sailing.

The proposal was due to come before its board on Wednesday, but this has been postponed until late January.

The Lord's Day Observance Society, who organised the petition, intends to take the issue to the Scottish Government.

Representatives have already met local Nationalist MSP Dr Alasdair Allan, and are awaiting a meeting with Transport Secretary Stewart Stevenson.

So far 3,760 people have signed the petition to register opposition to any Sunday ferry service.

CalMac said it had received "a number" of requests for seven-day sailings to Stornoway on Lewis.

Currently only two of the firm's routes in the area do not operate on a Sunday - the sailing between Tarbert on Harris and Uig on Skye and also the crossing between Stornoway and Ullapool on the Scottish mainland.

Most shops and licensed premises across Lewis close on a Sunday. There is, however, a scheduled air service to the mainland.

A Sunday ferry service from the south of the island, across the Sound of Harris to the smaller island of North Uist, started last year despite opposition from some local people.