The first major changes to Scottish crofting law for nearly 15 years have come into effect.

The changes are expected to lead to more land being used for crofting across the Highlands and Islands.

It is also thought that the system of land tenure could now be expanded into other areas for the first time.

The Crofters Commission said the changes provided a legal framework that will enable crofting to thrive in the 21st Century.

Croft register

MSPs approved the controversial Crofting Reform Bill by an overwhelming majority at Holyrood earlier this year.

The failure of the bill to address crofting tenancies has annoyed many crofters. Ministers have set up a separate inquiry into that issue.

A proper register of the 18,000 crofts will be set up to prevent absentee crofting and bring land into full use.

Crofters Commission chief executive Nick Reiter said the new laws would make it easier for crofting to extend from its traditional heartland.

He said: "They take account of wider changes in society, such as what constitutes a crofter's family and also clarify areas that have presented problems in the past - such as landlord-tenant relationships and issues such as boundary disputes."

Further changes

The commission said crofting had been restricted to the so-called crofting counties.

These are the former counties of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness, Sutherland, Inverness-shire, Ross-shire and Argyll.

The Scottish Executive now has the power to designate other areas of Scotland as suitable for crofting.

Further changes are due to take place from next January.

BBC News Item 25 June 2007