Money on its way

THE MAJORITY farmers and crofters in Shetland will receive their single farm payment over the next two weeks, the Scottish government has said.

Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead described the annual subsidy payment as a “boost not just for farmers but also the whole rural economy”.

Meanwhile pensioners and disabled people across the isles are also receiving a financial boost as the annual Christmas grant of £300 is being paid out by the Shetland Charitable Trust.

More than 1,000 individual payments worth more than £300,000 are being made.

Trust chairman Bill Manson said: “Shetland is in a very fortunate position in that we have the funds to be able to provide direct help to some of our most vulnerable people”.