A deal has been struck to create a wave farm big enough to power 7000 homes off the coast of Scotland.

The Crown Estate, which owns the seabed around Britain, has agreed to lease land off the west coast of Lewis to Pelamis Wave Power.

The company wants to build 14 wave machines in the waters close to the island of Bernera, between less than a mile and six miles from the shore.

With construction targeted for 2015, it would become the Western Isles' first commercial wave farm.

Pelamis project development manager, Ros Hart, said: "The Western Isles will be home to many of the world's first wave farms, and this lease is yet another step towards commercialising wave energy in Scotland.

"If the trajectory of our business and its technology continues, this will be the Western Isles' first ever grid-connected wave farm.

"The Bernera Wave Farm is the first of what we hope will be many megawatts of Pelamis power to come from the seas around the Outer Hebrides.

"We have been working on this project a number of years and look forward to completing the Bernera Wave Farm in continued close collaboration with the local communities and stakeholders involved."

Western Isles Council leader Angus Campbell described the Outer Hebrides as the "jewel in the crown of Scotland's marine energy resource".

He said: "As a community we are committed to encouraging the development of wave power in this area.

"Pelamis Wave Power has a unique track record of attracting utility customers and investment into this sector. We welcome their continued commitment to the Outer Hebrides and look forward to working closely with them.

"This announcement only heightens the need for us to upgrade the island's grid connection so that marine projects can flourish in this part of the world."