A controversial community buyout of a tiny Scottish island with just six residents is set to go ahead after a local ballot backed the move.

The owner of Ulva, who put it on the open market for around £4.2 million, expressed disappointment with the outcome after the plan was backed by 64 per cent of those who voted.

The 4,500-acre island off the Isle of Mull, where there are no tarmac roads and the main form of transport is quad bikes, has been owned by Jamie Howard’s family for more than 70 years.

Mr Howard, who has farmed the island for 35 years, believes a new private owner could invest in, and develop, the community, but the other residents and islanders on neighbouring Mull want it to be run instead by a local trust.

The North West Mull Community Woodland Company, across the water from Ulva, registered an interest in a community buyout last year with the aim of attracting people to the island and increasing economic activity.

The Electoral Reform Society, which supervised the ballot, announced that out of the 401 north Mull islanders eligible to vote on the issue, 255 had responded and 163 were in favour, with 91 against.