Describing the quest to get young people involved in crofting as a 'Herculean task', he outlined that overlegislation and regulation was a disincentive.

He said: "It has become increasingly difficult for young people of the area to return to their home villages, not only for employment reasons but for the fact that affordable housing is simply not available to them. If this issue is not addressed, then plans to revitalise the community and crofting will have been to no avail. This is a message we have heard many times over, but a message which has continued resonance as the older generations pass on."

He pointed out that crofting was a most desirable activity if it was allowed to prosper and progress but that obstacles often appeared in the way.

"Do we really need electronic tagging of sheep, unless they are sold to the mainland or taken to the abattoir? Was Blue tongue vaccination necessary in Scotland, when it wasn't in England and Wales? A croft register is something the Crofters commission should have compiled many years ago, and not an expensive burden to be placed on crofters.

"Surely the easiest and most cost effective way to complete a register would be for grazings clerks to submit croft boundaries, after agreement with the crofters in their respective townships, and only where there were disputes to refer them to the Land Court. There are many more examples of over legislation in crofting."

However he also stressed that crofting was certainly still alive in communities such as Lochs and that the resurrection of the Show was a sign of this.

For a full round up of the Lochs Show see this week's Stornoway Gazette, out on Thursday, July 29.