Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Vice Convener Angus Campbell, who chaired the meeting, said: "It was really good to see so many weavers present - and clearly there are very strong views on how the industry is run."

Over 100 people attended the meeting which was facilitated by the Comhairle in the Caberfeidh Hotel to discuss weavers' representation on the Harris Tweed Industry Liaison Group as well as the formation of a new Weaver's Association.

The meeting took place in a week that saw 35 redundancies at Kenneth Mackenzie's mill in Stornoway

Said Councillor Campbell: "Despite the current downturn in production resulting in a lack of work for the weavers, there was overwhelming support for the industry and in particular for the product itself.

"The purpose of the meeting was to get the views of the weavers for setting up a Weaver's Association. However, it was really good to see so many weavers present and clearly there are very strong views on how the industry is run."

He further added, "The weavers are a crucial part of the future development of the industry and their agreement to set up an Association and to be part of the Industry Liaison Group is most welcome."

See full report in this week's Stornoway Gazette, published on Thursday