Fifteen Northern Constabulary police stations to close

The force said its presence would not be reduced in the areas affected

Fifteen police stations across Northern Constabulary's force area will be closed following a decision by the Northern Joint Police Board.

The stations include Scalloway and Dunrossness on Shetland and Stromness on Orkney.

Barvas, Carloway, Ness and Tarbert on the Western Isles and Broadford on Skye will also close.

Bettyhill, Lybster, Evanton, Cromarty, Spean Bridge, Drumnadrochit and Ardersier will also be shut.

Beauly was in the firing line but a decision on its future will be taken at a later date.

Northern Constabulary and the board said the move would not have an impact on policing in the areas involved.

The Scottish Police Federation Northern Branch has been involved in consultation with Northern Constabulary on its plans to make savings.

A branch spokesman said: "It was unfortunate but inevitable that measures such as station closures were necessary.

"We support the chief constable in his efforts to ensure the numbers of frontline officers are maintained at the highest possible levels to ensure the public of the Highland and Islands continue to be provided with the high quality of service it receives.

"The public will continue to be provided with local service delivery, albeit that the officers will be deployed from alternative locations, and there are no plans that we are aware of for Northern Constabulary to reduce the standards it currently strives to achieve in relation to response times."