Critics of a report into crofting have set up a group to voice their opposition to recommendations for the future of the industry.

The group of crofters in north-west Sutherland have established the Crofting Rights Emergency Action Group to campaign against proposals in the Shucksmith report, published in May.

Among the recommendations was abolishing the Crofters Commission, replacing it with locally elected boards.

Initially there was a warm welcome to the report, but there has been increasing concern.

One of the Sutherland crofters, David Forbes, said: "Our ancestors sweated blood and tears to create crofts and homes for themselves and their families. We have worked though our entire lives to improve these crofts and croft houses.

"It is an outrage, unheard of in any democracy, rendering the assets of one generation worthless to benefit the next."

However, crofting opinion is deeply divided. Donald Murdie, a crofter in Valasay in Lewis, has written to The Herald in support of the report and attacking the critics.

"Crofting is indeed an anomaly which a lot of people don't like," he said. "It can only survive within a regulated system. If there is to be such a system it must be upheld and enforced, which the Crofters Commission has failed to do."