Scottish Provincial Press has launched an online guide to the north of Scotland in the shape of a new website Hi-lands.com.

The site, which was developed entirely in-house over the past six months, includes the latest local and world news and sport as well as features, classifieds and information for tourists.

Over the coming months the company aims to greatly increase the site's content and has been working on the launch of individual websites for each of its newspapers such as highland-news.

It also plans to expand the tourism part of the website and launch an entertainment section with listing for pubs, gigs and shows.

Speaking about the launch of Hi-lands.com, webmaster Fergus Weir said: "We saw a gap in the market. The local tourist board had launched its own website which we felt didn't do the area justice.

"The site is still in its early stages and we estimate it'll be another six months to a year before the site has maximum content.

"It will be a portal site for the whole of north Scotland and include everything you need to know about the area.

"In the first week after launch the site received 15,500 page impressions and in the second it was 18,500.

"We're pleased with the site so far but there is still lots to do."