WICK, on the north eastern tip of Scotland is to benefit from the benevolence of the Crown Estate with a £576,000 funding package announced earlier this month for a new marina.

The Crown Estate is supplying half the funding — and Ilfracombe hopes to follow in the Scottish port's footsteps.

The two coastal towns share some similarities, although Wick has a smaller population of 9,000, while Ilfracombe has nearer 11,000.

Both have relied, in the past on the fishing industry, but Wick is also thriving with regular deliveries of fuel oil, agricultural lime, road salt, coal, oil related cargo and wind turbines.

Both have an inner and outer harbour, while Wick also has a river harbour which is the commercial area.