The earl and countess are to seek public views on their plans

The Dowager Countess of Cawdor is seeking repayment of a loan and unpaid salary from a company of which Lord Colin Cawdor is a director.

In a joint statement, they said this was part of a larger, partially completed settlement.

They added they were still pursuing a major planning proposal for Nairn.

In an opinion released on Tuesday, a judge at the Court of Session asked for more evidence in the court case, which involves counter-claims by Cawdor Castle (Tourism), before a decision can be reached.

A date for a hearing has not been fixed.

Both the dowager and Lord Cawdor have expressed a genuine interest in hearing the views of local people on the future for the seaside town Cawdors' statement

However, a statement issued by Cawdor Castle, the family seat, and Cawdor Estates on Wednesday afternoon said the case will "see all the outstanding disputes between them settled amicably out of court in the very near future".

It added that the pair were "actively" working together to promote a major development on the west of Nairn.

The Cawdors said the area has been identified for future development in Highland Council's A96 Corridor Master Plan.

The statement added: "The Cawdor Maintenance Trust, of which the dowager is a trustee, is shortly to carry out a public consultation exercise to inform a proposed planning application for part of this area.

"Both the dowager and Lord Cawdor have expressed a genuine interest in hearing the views of local people on the future for the seaside town."

The earl and countess have previously clashed over the family home.

Five years ago, the countess tried to have her stepson - the seventh Earl of Cawdor and 25th Thane of Cawdor - and his family evicted from the castle after they moved in while she was on holiday.