Lightning strike causes havoc

Technical problems in the Northern Isles these past two days have hampered Shetland Coastguard and residents and businesses alike with internet connections after a suspected lightning strike took out the microwave link in Sanday in Orkney.

This link knocked out Shetland Coastguard's capability to listen in on shipping around the islands and resulted in Coastguard teams being despatched to hilltops to use hand held VHF radios.

Engineers finally got to Sanday late yesterday evening and fixed the faults with most people regaining internet after some 26 hours blacked out.