Highlands and Islands Enterprise board members and senior staff tread new ground this week when they hold a board meeting on the Isle of Arran for the first time.

Apart from their official meeting on Tuesday (29 August), the two-day trip to Brodick will allow the board to meet business leaders in the area, together with the chairman and chief executive of Argyll and the Islands Enterprise, to discuss local issues.

The potential for tourism and an update on accessibility to broadband across the Highlands and Islands are both issues on the agenda for Tuesday's board meeting.

There will also be a liaison meeting between members of the HIE network and North Ayrshire Council.

Board members will visit local businesses such as Arran Breweries and Arran Aromatics and listen to a presentation by Alastair Dobson on Taste of Arran and Destination Arran.

Over recent years the population of Arran has increased significantly, showing a 13 per cent rise between 1991 and 2001.

HIE board chairman William Roe said: "We are delighted to be visiting Arran as it enables us to talk face-to-face with local businessmen and community group representatives about the priorities they would like the HIE network to be pursuing."