Heavy goods vehicles could be banned from much of the island

Argyll and Bute Council said many of the roads were unsuitable for heavy trucks but islanders claimed the move would be disastrous.

A change in the way vehicle weights are calculated nationwide has meant tougher limits across the country.

Upgrading the island's roads network would cost up to �20m, according to the council.

But residents believe it is a price worth paying to keep their island on the move.

Many of Mull's roads are poor single-track routes, which means heavy goods vehicles could be barred from much of the island.

Fire engine

The council's head of roads and amenity services, Stewart Turner, said: "If we carry on letting large vehicles use the roads and we don't do any work on them, the roads just won't have a weight limit on them, we will have to close some of the roads.

"That is why have to take the steps now to put these weight limits on."

Farmer Linda Cameron said the weight limits would mean that "everyone would have to close down".

She said residents would be unable to take deliveries of building materials, heating oil and animal feed.

The island's forestry industry would also be hit, she said.

Ronnie Campbell of the Keep Mull Moving campaign said: "The fire engine can't come here, the dustcart can't come here.