A communications blackout which left emergency services in Shetland seriously compromised for several hours has prompted calls for a backup system to be put in place.
BT said a blown fuse at its Wideford Hill radio transmitter in Orkney was to blame for knocking out radio and telephone links for five hours on Saturday.
It left Shetland Coastguard without contact to the mainland while NHS Shetland had to advise patients requiring medical attention to attend the Gilbert Bain Hospital in person.
The problem also resulted in Sumburgh Airport closing at lunchtime, leading to the cancellation of 11 flights.
With the schedule restored on Sunday, a spokeswoman for operators Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) said an extra five inbound and four outbound flights had been laid on to clear the backlog of passengers.
A spokeswoman said Sumburgh had only returned to normal at 6.45pm on Saturday after BT resolved the problem.
She said: “The unfortunate closure was due to the islands phone line issue impacting on radar connections.”
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott said he would be pressing the authorities to put a back-up system in place as a matter of urgency.
“The NHS advised people not to phone 999 but instead go to Lerwick’s Gilbert Bain Hospital. The coastguard had no radio or phone communications to the Scottish mainland and flights into Sumburgh were suspended,” he said.
“Shetland was in short cut off because of a fuse. This is the 21st century. There has to be a back up.
“Shetland will expect a full explanation from BT. We will want to know what the emergency services and the NHS are now doing to ensure they do not depend on a communications system that failed.
“I will also be raising this with the Scottish Government given their responsibilities for emergency service cover.”