Old map whips up battle of Eigg

The long-running battle for ownership of the Isle of Eigg took another turn yesterday as residents, who want to buy the tiny island, discovered they are facing competition from a rival bidder. News of the mystery buyer came as islanders fought to stave off an attempt by a previous owner, Keith Schellenberg, to remove a 200-year-old map from the island.

It is the second time they have tried to buy the Scottish island which has been up for sale since last summer. Their first bid in November was rejected but they have since "significantly increased" their first offer of pounds 1.4m. The island, which has 63 inhabitants, was put on the market last summer by the German artist Marlin Eckhard Maruma, for pounds 2m. He bought it in 1995 from Mr Schellenberg, a Yorkshire businessman. Kate Watson-Smyth