Experts monitor South Uist whales

Animal welfare experts have arrived in South Uist to monitor the activities of a pod of pilot whales which has swum into a sea loch on the island.They were first spotted in Loch Carnan on Wednesday night.

However, fears that the whales were about to beach themselves have, as yet, proven unfounded.

The area coastguard said the group of about 25 whales was still swimming in relatively deep water and had shown no signs of distress.

They were last spotted near a small pier in Loch Carnan.

Officers from the Scottish SPCA and experts from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue group are on South Uist to monitor the animals.

Pilot whales can grow up to about 20ft (6.1m) and are among the most common marine mammals.