Bananas galore in Orkney after store orders 38,000 by mistake

A supermarket in Orkney has been giving away bananas after accidentally ordering an estimated 38,000 of them - almost double the entire population of the islands.

Tesco in Kirkwall had intended to order 380kg (750lbs) of the fruit but a slip-up meant it ordered 380 wholesale boxes, each containing about 100 bananas.

The surplus boxes, which arrived at the weekend, would normally have been returned to the mainland but high winds and subsequent ferry disruption meant this was not possible.

A Tesco spokesperson said the superstore has now been giving the boxes away to community groups and schools across the area.

An appeal was posted by Paula Clarke, Tesco's community champion, on social media, with toddler groups, football clubs and local organisations showing up at the supermarket to collect boxes.

Tesco has also arranged to send bananas out to Orkney's outer isles.

It is not the first time there has been an order blunder in Orkney in recent years.

Two years ago a small independent shop in Sanday - one of Orkney's north isles - inadvertently ordered 720 Easter Eggs, rather than the 80 the owner wanted.

That led to a fundraising campaign raising money for charity - but with a shorter shelf life, the Orkney banana glut will require a swifter solution.