Islanders on Eigg have been using generators

They have had to use their own generators to power their homes and hope to install a �1.3m grid system, using renewable energy.

The Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust has already received �350,000 from local enterprise and energy companies.

The trust's Ian Leaver said the cash would provide reliable electricity for 87 people on the Hebridean island.

The Big Lottery Fund has pledged �250,000 to the project following donations from a local enterprise firm and the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company (HICEC).

The need for a constant source of electricity on Eigg has been on our agenda for a while now Ian Leaver The Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust

Eigg residents purchased the island from its German owner in a community buy-out in 1997 and have since worked to improve its infrastructure.

Mr Leaver said: "The need for a constant source of electricity on Eigg has been on our agenda for a while now and has really started to take off in the last few years.

"Since the community took ownership of the island we have been working to regenerate the economy and the communities on the island in a sustainable manner.

Population hope

"This lottery money will help towards providing a reliable electricity source for 87 people living on Eigg.

"In 10 years time we aim to be able to extend the services to cater for almost double this number of people, making the island more attractive for new settlers."

He added that the trust needed to raise a further �200,000 and would then apply to Europe for the remainder of the funding.

The grid would provide electricity for the island's 37 houses and 10 businesses.

Power would be generated through a mixture of wind, hydro and solar energy.