Around the islands: What links Guernsey and the new James Bond film?

But now an old Aurigny Trislander which was retired several years ago has been saved from the scrapheap for an altogether more glamorous adventure – in the new James Bond film.

The aircraft – G-XTOR – flew the inter-island and Southampton routes for more than 30 years before being withdrawn from service and used for spare parts for the rest of the fleet.

It was dismantled in 2013 and its fuselage, along with another which had never been airborne, left Guernsey to go to a base for specialist engineers for Britten-Norman, which manufactures the aircraft, in Cumbernauld in Scotland. They were held in storage on the site until being transferred to Longcross Film Studios in Surrey.

Six airframes, two of which were from Guernsey, were taken to Austria for the filming of Spectre, which is due to be released later this month.

The Trislander is an adapted version of an Islander aircraft manufactured by Britten-Norman. To convert it into a Trislander, extra sections are added to the fuselage to increase it from an eight-seater to a 17-seater.

The film, which stars Daniel Craig, is the 24th instalment of the 007 series. Although the plot remains largely unknown, it is said to unfold in Austria, Italy and Mexico.

Leo Thomas has had to close Sarnia Guinea Pig Rescue Organisation for six months

A GUERNSEY guinea pig rescue centre has put its animals to sleep – and is to remain closed for six months – after an illness swept through the site.

Sarnia Guinea Pig Rescue has helped more than 150 of the animals since it opened three years ago. It has also rescued tortoises, birds, chinchillas, chipmunks, rabbits and chickens.

But an illness swept through the guinea pig herd last month, and it has now been forced to close until next May.

‘The States veterinary officer has advised us that we are required to keep the site vacant for a period of six months to allow for any remaining bacteria to be destroyed.’

He added that Sarnia Guinea Pig Rescue ‘has been helping the Bailiwick’s unwanted and neglected guinea pigs for three years’ and that they ‘remain resolute’ and will eventually continue with their work.

However, when it returns it will only house guinea pigs, as it believes other animals increase the risk of bacterial infections.

AN Alderney gardener has admitted losing control of her dogs which went on to kill 15 ducks and chickens.

Claire Cotton was walking her working cocker spaniels, Pudding and Feather, off the lead when she stopped to use her phone and lost sight of the dogs.

They vanished into nearby bushes and did not return.

Alderney Court heard that the following morning, another resident became concerned because he hadn’t heard his wife’s chickens and ducks and went outside to investigate.

Crown Advocate Graeme McKerrell said: ‘He went out into the field where they were kept and saw a large number of dead chickens and ducks scattered around. The dogs were still trying to get at the remaining hens in one of the coops.’

Cotton (35) admitted failing to keep control of her dogs and will be sentenced later in the year.

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