Two new homes built on the small Orkney island of Eday have attracted a wave of interest from across the UK after being advertised for rent at £550 a month. The initiative aims to draw new residents to the island, which has just 102 inhabitants, in order to boost pupil numbers at the local school and support its ageing population as younger people move to the mainland. Officials involved say the response has far exceeded expectations, with the BBC Orkney listing that first advertised the properties receiving around a million hits.

The two three-bedroom houses feature solar panels, wooden panelling, open-plan kitchens and sea views, and cost roughly half the average city-centre rent in Glasgow or Edinburgh. Alan Kelly of the Eday Partnership said families combining skills such as caring or trades work, ideally with Orkney connections, would be well placed to apply, while local councillor Mellissa Thomson described being "amazed" by the level of interest, with enquiries coming from as far afield as Cornwall. Employment is not guaranteed, but Eday's small number of businesses have vacancies, and the community has urged families and carers to consider applying.