pounds 700,000 LOVE GRANT

LONELY men on a remote Scottish island were last night celebrating a pounds 711,000 "love grant".

The EU cash has been awarded to create jobs for women in a bid to attract more of them to the isolated Hebridean community of North Uist.

The news has delighted local men who outnumber women almost two to one. Fishermen John McPherson said: "This is the best news I've heard in a long time.

"As the women get old enough, they are away over to the mainland. Who can blame them? There's nothing for them to do here."

Crofter John Campbell said: "This community is dying on its feet. I can't remember the last time there was a wedding. This money has come in the nick of time."

Paula McLeod, 21, of Benbecula, is one of the few single women on the island. She said: "I feel really sorry for the men. Most of them live in lonely crofts.

"The problem is there is just not enough here to keep the women. I'll be staying because I've lived here all my life. But I'm afraid most don't stay.

"I think it's a great idea to put cash into the community. If women can get a job it would encourage them to stay."

But her friend Donna McLeod said: "I am afraid it's too late for me. I'm due to enrol at Glasgow University.""

Last night the two girls joined local lads in a bar to celebrate the windfall. As usual, they were quickly surrounded by wouldbe suitors. "It's like this all the time," said Paula. "Everywhere we go we are surrounded by men."

The grant was awarded by the European Union LIFE programme. A spokesman said: "The number of women leaving the island has become a very important issue. A large part of our objective is to increase employment opportunities for women."

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