A woman remains unaccounted for after a devastating house fire in a remote area of Sutherland.
Fears are growing for the woman, named locally as Edith Allan, after her home in Durness was almost completely destroyed by a blaze in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The property in the Sangomore area is so badly damaged that nobody has yet been able to enter the house.
Ms Allan’s next of kin have been made aware and police are now working to determine if she was in the building when the fire broke out.
She had previously lived in the Dalcross area near Inverness before moving to Sutherland about ten years ago.
Ms Allan moved north to care for elderly crofter Donald Matheson and continued to live in the area when he died in 2010.
Durness resident Ronnie Lansley said: “She had lived by herself for the last few years.
“She lived very quietly. She was a friendly lady but she kept herself to herself.”
Gordon MacGregor knew Ms Allan when she lived in the Wester Connage area at Dalcross, near Inverness Airport.
He said: “She was a really nice woman. I used to stop in for a chat every so often and she was always very friendly.
“I’m really shocked to hear this.”
Ms Allan is understood to have a son and a daughter who do not live locally.
Emergency services were first alerted to the fire at around 2am after it was spotted by members of the public passing through Durness.
Three fire crews were called to the scene – and firefighters used high pressure jets to extinguish the fire from outside the property.
Firefighters remained at the scene for much of yesterday dampening down the remains of the house.
The roof of the croft house has completed collapsed and the rest of the property is extensively damaged.
Smoke could still be seen rising from the property by dusk yesterday afternoon.
The roads around the property remained cordoned off while emergency services worked at the scene.
Durness-based councillor Hugh Morrison said: “The community is in shock to have woken up to this news.
“We are all hoping for the best but unfortunately it doesn’t look good.
“My thoughts are obviously with the lady’s family at this difficult time.”
Police confirmed that Ms Allan remains unaccounted for – but nobody will be able to enter the property until the building is assessed for safety.
Detective Inspector Richard Baird said: “A joint investigation with the fire service will be carried out.
“Inquiries are at a very early stage. However, initial inquiries would suggest there are no suspicious circumstances.
“Due to the extensive structural damage and uncertainty of the building, gaining access to the property will take some considerable time.
“Structural engineers will advise when it will be safe to enter the property.”
A spokeswoman for the fire and rescue service added: “A total of three appliances were mobilised to the scene.
“Firefighters put out the fire externally using powerful water jets.
“A crew remains on scene dampening down and ensuring the area is made safe.
“A joint investigation with Police Scotland to establish the circumstances will take place in due course.”