Ministers are being encouraged to enhance ferry services to Scottish islands when the next contract to provide lifeline services goes out to tender.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) wants to see cheaper travel for young people, more frequent sailings and an extension of the summer timetable.

The Scottish Executive is currently consulting on proposals for putting the Caledonian MacBrayne network out to tender.

One of the main issues facing west coast communities is the need to retain families and young people

Dr Jim Hunter HIE chairman

The company runs the lifeline services in the Clyde and the Hebrides.

For some islanders, ferry services are their only transport link with the mainland.

However, the development agency maintains that the frequency of sailings on some routes is stifling economic growth and encouraging depopulation.

HIE sees the tendering process as a great opportunity to enhance existing provision.

It wants the specification for the routes to be dynamic - encouraging potential bidders to enhance existing services instead of retaining the status quo for the five years of the contract.

HIE will recommend the introduction of a young persons ferry card offering cheaper travel for 16 to 25-year-olds, with further reductions for under 16s.

Improved services

It is seeking for flexible timetables which would allow schoolchildren to return home at weekends.

The Scottish Executive is also being asked to introduce more frequent sailings, particularly during the winter, and extend the summer timetable.

And HIE is calling for the introduction of a development fund which would encourage island communities and local authorities to bid for money to support improvements to their ferry service.

HIE chairman Dr Jim Hunter said: "One of the main issues facing west coast communities is the need to retain families and young people.

"This is why we are calling for cheaper travel for these groups and getting schoolchildren home at the weekend."