A woman who stole nearly £20,000 from her local community has been spared jail.

Elaine Newton pleaded guilty to taking nearly £11,524 from the Uig Community Shop on Lewis between February and August 2014.

Newton also admitted stealing £8000 from the Uig Development Trust, the body which runs the store which she managed, in 2013.

The Uig Community Shop was saved from closure in 2004 following the retirement of its previous owners. About 400 villagers stepped in to save the shop.

Newton, 64, was told she committed a "serious breach of trust" when she was sentenced at Stornoway Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Sheriff Valerie Johnston imposed a community payback order, instructing her to undertake 240 hours of unpaid community work in the next six months.

The sheriff warned Newton faced prison if she failed to complete the stipulated hours.

Newton's lawyer Ken Macdonald, said: "Her whole life has been ruined by this and it is her own fault - she understands this."

Mr Macdonald said the Newton had repaid the money by selling her house, adding that she "had to leave the island she loved and wanted to stay for the rest of her life."