Work begins on Lewis on Beatrice offshore turbines

Wind turbine jackets being constructed at Arnish near Stornoway

Work is under way at a fabrication yard on the Isle of Lewis to construct parts for the £2.6bn Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited (Bowl) project.

Fife-based BiFab has a contract to construct 28 jackets and eight piles for the turbines needed for the scheme.

Much of this construction work is being done at BiFab's yard at Arnish, near Stornoway on Lewis.

The contract also involves the company's sites at Burntisland and Methil in Fife.

Fife-based company BiFab has a contract to make 28 jackets

Bowl involves the installation of 84 turbines in the Moray Firth.

Ten of the structures are to be delivered next year and 16 in 2018.

Bowl, which involves energy giant SSE, will also mean work for Wick Harbour in Caithness and the Nigg Energy Park on the Cromarty Firth.

Construction of the wind farm is expected to start next year.

SSE expects the farm to generate 588MW of power - enough electricity for about 450,000 homes, according to the energy company - once it is operational in 2019.

Workers at Arnish and also at yards at Burntisland and Methil are employed on completing the contract

Part of wind turbine jacket at Arnish

The yard is near Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis