Divided islanders bridge the gap

Engineers are putting the final touches to the bridge

An Orkney island which was split in two by floods is being reunited after a temporary bridge found on the internet was shipped from Wigan.

The final parts of the structure have been fixed into place connecting the north of Hoy to the rest of the island.

Torrents of water washed away part of Millburn Bridge two weeks ago, making it impossible for vehicles to cross.

Islanders said that although Hoy had been divided the situation had also brought the community closer together.

It is hoped the replacement bridge will be brought into use by the end of Wednesday if weather conditions remain favourable.

Many people say in living memory it seems to have been one of the worst flooding incidents Brian Thomson Orkney Islands Council

Engineers have lowered the temporary structure on to the existing bridge and are tarring the surface.

About 40 people in the north of Hoy were cut off from shops and children had to swap from one bus to another over what remained of the original crossing.

Bus driver Terry Thomson said a woman who lives nearby saw the bridge collapsing behind him as he crossed with the children.

"It was a near one," he said.

Children have been trying out the new crossing

The small Graemsay passenger ferry has also been transporting animal feed and taking out salmon for harvesting to allow business to continue.

Brian Thomson, director of technical services with Orkney Islands Council, said it sourced the new bridge in the north of England using the Google search engine.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's the sort of situation where the community, the workforce and private suppliers - the local crane hire in particular - really pulled out the stops.

"They know how important this road link is to the people of Hoy.

"Many people say in living memory it seems to have been one of the worst flooding incidents, for rain anyway, that we've had in a very long time."