Hard on the heals of Flybe's termination of the essential Inverness - Edinburgh flights and national UK rail strikes set to start on 6th April, the Highlands has been left reeling by the collapse of Highland Airways. Serving Benbecula, Coll, Colonsay, Inverness, Oban, Stornoway and Tiree the loss of this airline leaves a gaping hole in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Speaking from his Loch Ness project base, Professor Kettle said, "we're getting really concerned. Colleagues and essential supplies for our research are finding it difficult to get here. There is every chance that our attempts to find Nessie will be scuppered if problems carry on escalating".