A new £60m hospital in Orkney has been given full planning permission.

The facility will replace Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall when it opens in spring 2019.

Orkney Islands Council approved the project at a meeting in the town on Wednesday.

The Scottish Government gave its backing to business case for the hospital last month, two and a half years after NHS Orkney did the same.

Chief executive Cathie Cowan said: "The board is delighted that Robertson has achieved this important milestone, which, with the approval of the board's full business case by Scottish Government last month, allows us to finalise the contract in the coming weeks.

"We look forward to seeing a start on site in the very near future."