TV £50,000 for Old Beacon restoration

North Ronaldsay's appearance on national television has resulted in a £50,000 boost for restoration of the Old Beacon.

The tower is one of Scotland's oldest lighthouses, built in 1789 by Thomas Smith, along with his son-in-law, Robert Stevenson.

It was featured in the 2006 series of BBC Two's Restoration Village, coming in to third place in the final. Donations from viewers provided funding for the winning project, and a surplus from this has now been allocated amongst four of the other finalists, with North Ronaldsay one of two successful Scottish projects. (The other is Cromarty East Church.)

The money comes through an independent charitable fund set up by the BBC to manage the donations. The fund's chair, Andrea Miller, says that she is delighted that a further four projects will benefit. 'The chosen projects will use their money to fund a discrete, stand-alone project so viewers can see a tangible result from their generosity.'

The work on the restoration of the Old Beacon will include work on the lightkeeper's cottage alongside.