£10k buyout is not set in stone...

IT is an event that attracts hundreds of people from all over the world to a tiny, car-free island.

Now organisers of the World Stone Skimming Championships have applied for cash from the Scottish Land Fund for one of its most unusual community buy-outs.

Islanders on Easdale, near Oban, Argyll, want to purchase an unused quarry where their tournament is held each September.

The charity event, which raises funds for local community projects, was nearly cancelled in 2012 when island owner Jonathan Feigenbaum abruptly imposed a £1,000 fee on the organisers.

By buying the quarry from Mr Feigenbaum for £10,000, organiser Eilean Eisdeal would be in charge of its destiny, guaranteeing it a fee-free future.

Duncan Smallman chairman of Eilean Eisdeal, said: ‘We are going to try to buy the quarry because over recent years we have been asked for £1,000 to just do a charity event. With a fee of £1,000, you are looking at 12 to 16 per cent of the overall gross income we get from the stone-skimming event, so it is a significant amount.’

The taxpayer-backed Land Fund has helped communities such as Eigg to take control of their destiny from absentee landlords.

Eilean Eisdeal is hoping the Land Fund will grant the full £10,000 as they will have to pay for fencing if the sale is agreed.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘There is no current application though there have been discussions about a possible one in the future.’