NorthLink Ferries receive gold rating 

NorthLink Ferries has become the only ferry operator to receive a gold rating at the Green Tourism Awards.

Many more back Dogs Against Drugs campaign

Many more people have backed The Shetland Times campaign to support our drugs dogs, with the petition now surpassing 1,300 signatures.

When this newspaper was published last Friday, there were around 1,200 signatures on the petition to direct more of the proceeds of crime towards charities like Dogs Against Drugs.

But since then the total has reached 1,310.

Our fundraiser has also reached a third of its £2,500 target.

Currently, the total stands at £810 with an extra £133.75 in Gift Aid.

So far, many generous Shetlanders have kindly donated what they can to our fundraiser but there is still a long way to go. It will come to an end on Wednesday, 31st July.

Redd Up volunteers take part in coastal clean up

A woman from North Carolina is among the army of volunteers taking part in Da Voar Redd Up today.

Rebecca Hoyt was working with friends to improve the environment along the East Voe road.

But while she may be from the coastal US state, she had sailed from Norway to take part in the annual community beach and roadside spring clean.

“I’m really happy to join in the community spirit,” she told The Shetland Times.

She was working alongside friends Gilly Bridle, John Kinnear and Davie Meddes, picking up bits of rubbish and plastic.

The group was just one of a number of people working in the area.

In Scalloway, Church of Scotland volunteers were picking up rubbish – appropriately enough – at Minister’s Beach.

This is the 37th year that Da Voar Redd Up, managed by Shetland Amenity Trust, has taken place.

The event is a regular feature in the Shetland calendar and makes a huge contribution to the protection of Shetland’s natural environment and wildlife, clearing Shetland’s beaches, coastlines and roadsides of litter and the debris washed up by the winter storms.

Rory Tallack, one of the organisers behind the campaign, said: “Last year over 200 groups took part – from toddler groups to knitting groups.

“There was a great mix of folk – we also had lots of families, churches, neighbours, schools and sports clubs coming together in this fantastic beach and roadside clean up.”

In this week’s Shetland Times

In today’s (Friday, 19th April) edition of The Shetland Times:

• EXCLUSIVE: Staggering 56 vapes found dumped at Quarff roadside.
• Skeld Parent Council lodge complaint over mothballing.
• Tributes paid to popular Ness man Fraser Smith.
• Dogs Against Drugs petition reaches 1,200 signatures as police chief praises “gold standard service”.
• EXCLUSIVE: Police chief praises “brave” officers using life-saving tactic.
• Children’s director to step down after 35 years.
• Parking to be ditched for housing at Knab development.
• EXCLUSIVE: Pneumonia patient rubbishes claims hospital has enough beds.
• EXCLUSIVE: Isles police to be trained in drug driving testing.
• SPORT: Cameron Nisbet picks up strongman award after dropping video games.