The results of one of the key election battlegrounds were last night delayed by fog, which prevented a helicopter collecting ballot boxes from parts of the Outer Hebrides.

The results of one of the key seat battlegrounds, and possibly of the election, were last night delayed by fog which prevented a helicopter collecting ballot boxes from parts of the Outer Hebrides.

Officials delayed final counting, and the results of the key Western Isles marginal, where the SNP is trying to overturn a Labour majority of just 720, will be declared today. SNP's Alasdair Allan is trying to oust Labour's Alasdair Morrison, and the SNP requires a swing of 2.9% to take the seat. Results for the Western Isles Council will also be delayed until then.

The helicopter had been hired at a cost of £14,000 by the Scottish Executive to perform the task usually carried out by police in bringing the ballot boxes by car and ferry from islands along the 130-mile chain.

The helicopter, chartered from PDG in Inverness, had been due to fly to Barra for a pick-up there and then go on to Benbecula to uplift more ballot boxes and to take them on to Stornoway.

The 120 people gathered in Lewis sports centre were told by the returning officer Malcom Burr, Western Isles Council chief executive: "The ballot boxes from the Southern Isles will now be taken across by the first ferry in the morning. The count will commence at 10am and we would hope that there would be a declaration between noon and 1pm."