An oil rig that ran aground in the Western Isles two months ago is ready to begin its final journey.

The Transocean Winner grounded near Carloway on Lewis during a storm on August 8.

It was towed free two weeks later and taken to Broad Bay, where it was lifted onto the back of the 60,000-tonne heavy transport OHT Hawk last week.

The Transocean Winner is ready to be taken to Turkey for decommissioning, but the Hawk cannot leave Scotland until its passage is approved by European authorities.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "Work to make the Transocean Winner rig ready for its journey on the back of the Hawk heavy lift vessel has been completed and signed off.

"The Hawk remains in Broad Bay while final approvals are obtained for her to take the rig to Malta and then on to Turkey.

"These approvals have to be from all parties involved under EU directives.

"Once those are in place [salvage expert] Hugh Shaw will give his consent for the passage to begin.

"However, future weather and sea conditions will continue to be reviewed and the master of the Hawk will be allowed to delay departure if he feels they aren't favourable for the journey to be made."