Western Isles Council has thanked the people of Manchester for helping two Scots schoolgirls caught up in last week's terror attack.

Eilidh MacLeod, 14, from Barra, lost her life in the bombing along with 21 others.

Her friend and schoolmate Laura MacIntyre, 15, was badly injured and remains in hospital.

In an open letter to Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, the leader of the islands council said people there were "deeply saddened and shocked" by the attack.

"For us this dreadful incident occurred far away but it is all the more poignant given that two young girls from one of our schools were involved in the attack," Norman A MacDonald wrote.

"Needless to say, our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of all those affected and we can only hope the others who were injured make a full recovery.

"We will be supporting the MacLeod and Macintyre families, both in Barra and in Manchester, and are ready and willing to assist in whatever capacity we can.

"I thank the people of Manchester and the emergency services for all that they have done to help people in their time of need.

"I am confident that, given time, our communities will recover from this barbaric attack on our young people."

Mr MacDonald added that the poem This is the Place, which has frequently been cited in the aftermath of the attack, "epitomises the resilience and determination already shown by the people of Manchester".

"Communities in the Hebrides stand in solidarity with you and our thoughts will be with you all during the challenging times ahead," he added.