Stop using toasters, islanders are told

Residents of a Scottish island that claims to be the world's greenest have been told to cut their power use because a shortage of rain is starving its hydro-electric generators.

Renewable energy usually provides Eigg, in the Inner Hebrides, with 92 per cent of its electricity, but it has not had any significant rain since May.

The 70 or so islanders have been warned to avoid using power-hungry appliances such as toasters in case demand for power makes their back-up diesel generators chug into life.

In January, the community won a £300,000 prize to spend on projects which reduce carbon emissions.