A Western Isles fabrication yard has shed half its workforce in a matter of weeks as order numbers dwindle.
The last order for the Arnish fabrication yard - components for a wind farm in Germany - is being shipped out of Lewis this week.
Around 40 local sub-contracted workers have left the yard over the past three weeks and the plant has now been left with 43 core staff.
A new oil field being developed off Shetland has provided a ray of hope that the lack of work is temporary and staff will be rehired at Arnish in the near future.
Lewis plant operators Bi Fab are in advanced talks with Premier Oil, which has received the go-ahead to drill for oil on the Solan field off the north of Scotland.
It is thought that much of the contract may be handled by Bi Fab's main facility in Fife.
But Martin Adams, of Bi Fab, indicated that the Arnish plant should get some work from the project.
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