A Scottish island’s school finally found a Gaelic teacher after a six month search - only for their efforts to be thwarted by the Home Office denying her a visa.

The post at Bunessan Primary, on the Isle of Mull, did not attract any Scottish applicants but a Gaelic-speaking Canadian teacher eventually came forward.

Sine Halfpenny, from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, agreed to move continent to take the post, but was barred by Home Office officials on the grounds she "failed to meet the required points" required for a visa.

The Scottish Government has pushed for more Gaelic education in schools, but despite the difficulties in recruitment, Gaelic teachers do not feature on the Home Office's Tier 2 Shortage Occupation List which allows visa applications from overseas to be fast tracked.

Bunessan Primary started looking for a teacher in June this year and after waiting half a year for a suitable applicant, staff were delighted when Ms Halfpenny applied for the job.

As well as speaking Gaelic, Ms Halfpenny studied in Scotland and was professionally qualified to teach in Scottish schools.