Report into vacant Island properties published

There were nearly 6,500 unoccupied properties on Island in 2016, a government report has revealed.

The figures - published by the Economic Affairs Division of the Cabinet Office - show there was a 15 per cent vacancy rate at the time of the census that year.

The highest number was in Douglas with 2,430 unoccupied, but the top vacancy rate was in Rushen at 21 per cent.

Between 2001 and 2016 all local areas on the Isle of Man except for Bride have seen an increase in the amount of unused properties.