ROUND-the-clock electricity is to come to a remote island, where its 38 residents currently ration their use of power over just nine hours a day. The ten families on Muck, in the Inner Hebrides, are celebrating winning almost £1 million in Lottery funding yesterday.

Having struggled on sharing the power from a 10KiloWatt generator – with islanders having to give each other slots to use washing machines – the cash boost will enable them to install renewable energy schemes for all-day electricity. And delighted residents now hope that having 24-hour power will help attract more families to the island.

Mark Johnson, of Muck Community Enterprise, which was given the £978,840 grant from the Lottery, said: “This will make a huge difference. To have 24-hour power will enable the community to thrive and will hopefully attract more people to the island and enhance the population of Muck and the primary school roll.”

ROUND-THE-CLOCK electricity has finally come to a remote island, where its 38 residents had to ration their use of power to just over nine hours a day. The ten families on Muck, in the Inner Hebrides, are celebrating the fact they can now switch on to 24-hour electricity. The new power scheme, funded by a Lottery grant of almost £1million, has brought an end to more than 40 years of power rationing. It also comes as residents on another Scots island, Canna, are enduring days of blackouts as a result of ‘unprecedented’ blizzards.

Residents on the so-called ‘Candle Island’ of Muck had struggled on sharing the power from a 10KiloWatt generator – with islanders having had to give each other slots to use washing machines. The island first received electricity in 1970 but, until now, it had been available only from 7.30am to 11am and 5pm to 11.30pm. It meant they often missed the ends of films when their TVs cut out. Muck Community Enterprise Company was handed the £978,840 last year to introduce a system of wind turbines and solar panels. Director Mark MacEwen said: “It’s quite something to see it come to fruition.”