New weight limits for baggage have been introduced by St Mary?s airport.

Single items that weigh more than 20kg (44lbs) will no longer be accepted for loading on to the aircraft from today.

This initiative is an attempt to reduce back injuries caused by carrying heavy baggage.

Although the maximum weight limit per passenger remains at 15kg often couples chose one large piece of luggage. This will no longer be acceptable.

Airport Manager Alan Hicks explains ?the increased number of people flying and us working with the Health and Safety at Work Guidelines means that we can not continue to carry individual, heavy pieces of luggage. We have to protect our baggage handlers.?

Long term flyer to the islands Jenny Edwards told Scilly News ?I don?t think it will make that much difference. It just means that people will have to think before they pack.?

Fire fighters were called to a Bryher home this morning after a 999 call.

Sparks from a rubbish incinerator at South Hill are thought to have caused the fire which spread and caught the garden shed alight.

Local boatbuilder Dan Bennett told Scilly News ?The fire brigade responded very quickly and prevented any serious damage to the garden.?

The new chairman of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company has been revealed.

Andrew May was appointed last week as chair of the company, which transports both passengers and freight into and out of the islands.

Mr May was officially appointed after the annual general meeting last week. He has been vice-chairman for two years.

On Tuesday 23 September, St Mary?s Lifeboat was called out to the 52-foot ketch the “Trustfill” (pictured above). The lifeboat was called out at 1135 and returned with the ketch in toe at 1540. She was found 14 miles east of the Islands with engine failure, in a northerly force 5 wind and a moderate sea.

Thanks to Andy Brown.

(Scilly?s Sonic Booms To Become History / Tourism Web Site / Another Westcountry TV Series Visits Scilly)

Scilly?s Sonic Booms To Become History

British Airway?s Concorde service will be permenantly suspended in 34 days, on Thursday 23 October.

As it leaves the airspace over the mainland, Concorde is allowed to reach supersonic speeds to get to New York in record time. As it passes the Islands, the boom is heard as it breaks the sound barrier at a crusing height of 30,000 feet (where the speed of sound, mach 1, is 294m/s). Alas, this will no longer be heard when flights are suspended until a more efficient supersonic aircraft is adopted by airlines.

Tourism Web Site

SimplyScilly, the Isles of Scilly Tourism Board?s official web site has recently had a face-lift. It has been redeveloped by Richard Wilcox, the Isles of Scilly Tourist Board?s Tourism Champion. It is more detailed than before and has new features, including an accommodation search engine.

Another Westcountry TV Series Visits Scilly

“Way To Go” is a programme to be shown on Carlton Westcountry in the New Year (specific dates not yet known).

The producers of the six-part series visited the Islands to cover gig racing, which will be a part of the first programme of the series entitled “Water”. Later programmes will cover Flying, Trains, Horses, Walking and Wheels in the Westcountry region.

Islanders could soon be under invasion from asylum seekers if Oliver Letwin has his way.

The Western Morning News has reported that a new document commissioned by the Shadow Home Secretary reveals centres could be built on islands off the Westcountry coast.

The concept is part of a package of proposals designed to reduce the appeal of the UK to asylum seekers.

The report does not specifically name Scilly as a site for the “offshore application centres” but the islands do fit the description of lightly populated places. Other islands under consideration are Drake’s Island in Plymouth and Lundy.

Lib-Dem MP for North Devon has described the scheme as ‘barking mad.’

For more information go to www.westernmorningnews.co.uk

The Isles of Scilly has enhanced its reputation as an area of biodiversity after two nature devotees found a rare cricket on the islands.

Ren Hathway and Paul Stanclife found the large cone-headed cricket on St Marys.

This is thought to be the first recording of the insect in Britain, as they usually inhabit much warmer climates.

The male has a loud mating call which can be heard up to two miles away although no females have been found as of yet.

A formal identification will be undertaken when a sample is sent to the Natural History Museum in London.

Local Police have visited Bryher today as part of a tour of the off islands.

The surgery, which is the second to be held on Bryher, offered local residents the chance to ask any questions or speak confidentially to the officers.

Newly appointed Police Community Support Officer, Kevin Youngman, told Scilly News that the surgery was held ?to provide reassurance and to let locals know who we are. It is important to make ourselves visible on the off islands as well as St Mary?s.?

Only one crime has been reported on Bryher this year, although the officers did state that some crimes may go unreported because locals ?don?t want to bother them.?

Two 18th century cannons from the Garrison on St Marys have been restored to their former glory. The 30lb weapons which used to protect the islands from attack have been restored by English Heritage and have taken pride of place outside the Duchy of Cornwall offices on St Mary?s.

The guns have had many uses over the last few years including bollards for anchoring ships in the harbour. For the last few years but they have been kept in storage after storms in 1987 damaged parts of the quay.

The viewers of BBC?s travel programme, Holiday, have voted that the Isles of Scilly are one of the top 5 places to visit in Britain.

Scilly comes in a number three in the ratings with only Windamere (1) and London (2) beating the county as a top holiday destination.

Others in the top ten included Manchester, Jersey and Glasgow. Cornwall was voted at number 9 in Britain.

The programme will be aired on Wednesday 17th September on BBC1.