Office park secures major tenant

28 July 2011 Last updated at 18:21 GMT Sepa is taking an entire block at Maxim on a 20-year lease The struggling Maxim office park in Lanarkshire has been given a major boost with the announcement it is to let an entire block to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).

The agency is taking the 60,000 sq ft 'Maxim 6' building on a 20-year lease.

The move will allow Sepa to run several of its operations under one roof.

Maxim park was saved from financial collapse only a few months ago by the sale of Lloyds Banking Group debt to an American private equity investor.

The debt restructuring involved Cerberus Capital Management, a New York-based investment house.

The park, which offers 750,000 sq ft of office and retail space across 10 buildings on a prominent site by the M8 motorway, opened in 2007 but has secured few tenants until now.

David Gebbie, from commercial property asset managers Arisaig Property Partners, said the recent financial restructuring of Maxim had allowed Sepa and Maxim to achieve a leasing deal that previously could not have been achieved.

He added: "Both Maxim and Sepa have economically benefited from a review of the original terms without impacting the actual net present value of the lease.

"The news is a great boost for Maxim and the Lanarkshire area."

Sepa will relocate 350 staff to the office, including 200 from East Kilbride - where they are closing down two neighbouring offices - and others from Stirling and Perth as well as scientific staff from Edinburgh.

Sepa's headquarters will remain in Stirling.

Sepa chief executive Campbell Gemmell commented: "I am extremely pleased to be able to announce that Sepa has secured an excellent new facility, which will not only mean more efficient and effective environmental protection for Scotland, but which also provides better value for money for the taxpayer.

"It will provide the operational base for our regulatory teams for west central Scotland, an excellent working environment for several related national functions and a brand new, first class laboratory facility."

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Barrier call for level crossings

28 July 2011 Last updated at 23:45 GMT The rail regulator said high risk crossings should be fitted with barriers or closed The railway regulator has called for barriers to be fitted to more than half of Scotland's open level crossings.

A Rail Accident Investigation Branch safety review said some crossings should close completely if Network Rail could not install automatic barriers.

The review was prompted by a crash in Caithness in 2009, when three members of the same family died after driving onto an ungated level crossing.

Scotland has 23 open crossings, and 21 of these are in the Highlands.

The regulator said more than half of these, including the site of the 2009 crash at Halkirk, posed a high risk to drivers and should be fitted with barriers.

Two crossings at Ardrossan are also in need of upgrading, it claimed.

Network Rail said it was implementing a substantial programme of activity, aimed at reducing the level of risk by a quarter by 2014.

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Man, 80, in eight-peak challenge

30 July 2011 Last updated at 11:27 GMT Lorne Brown will be 80 three days before the climbs begin A man from Cumbernauld is to attempt eight climbs in eight days in the Italian Dolomites, just three days after his 80th birthday.

Lorne Brown intends to scale the dramatic heights using the Via Ferratas or "iron roads" on 2 September.

These will take him up overhanging cliffs and precipitous slopes to the high and most dangerous parts of the Dolomites.

He will be raising money for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

By a coincidence the charity is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

A Via Ferrata is a mountain route which is equipped with fixed cables, stemples, ladders, and bridges to assist climbers.

Allowing only eight days for the eight climbs, in what he terms the "8x8 challenge", Lorne hopes to raise ?8,888 for the guide dog charity.

'Bit daunted'

Each day he will have to walk and climb about 3,000 feet (900m) - the height of a Munro - to get to the start of each Via Ferrata.

He will then don a safety helmet, harness, karabiners and safety kit before clipping on to the first cable and setting off.

Mr Brown, who lives in Dullatur, explained why he was doing the climbs for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

"If we didn't have guide dogs all these people would be sitting at home going nowhere," he said.

"A dog can take them out and help them take part in everything that is going on."

He added : "I'm a little bit daunted by the challenge but I wouldn't do it unless I thought I could do it.

"I've been going to the gym three days a week and climbing once or twice a week to make sure my muscles and stamina get stronger."

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Prison term for 'callous' conman

29 July 2011 Last updated at 10:55 GMT At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Tyre said Kenneth Tait was 'cold' and 'callous' A conman who preyed on vulnerable women for cash has been jailed for six years and four months after a judge condemned his "cold, calculated callousness".

Kenneth Tait, 44, from Manchester, duped a series of women out of a total of ?155,229 in Edinburgh and at Glencare, Perth, between 2000 and 2007.

One victim even agreed to sell her home under extreme pressure from him.

He was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after earlier admitting carrying out three frauds and a theft.

Outside the court, nurse Lesley Munro, 54, from whom he stole ?104,160, said: "I am relieved. He literally stole everything.

"I am here for all the other victims. It is a brilliant outcome. Yes, I have lost my house, I have lost everything but he has got justice now."

Lord Tyre told Tait he would have faced an eight-year prison term for his crimes, but for his guilty plea.

The judge said he took into account the length of time over which he perpetrated his crimes and the determination with which he pursued them and the severe effect on the victims.

"The degree of cold, calculated callousness which you exhibited to these women, who looked to you for friendship and love, is shocking," he told Tait.

The court heard Tait at first appeared "charming, affable and very supportive" of his targets including those who had left unhappy relationships.

But once he gained their trust he engaged in "a ruthless campaign to get funds" using emotional blackmail, claiming he was in danger or ill, and offering financial incentives alleging he had lucrative investment opportunities.

Marriage proposals

The court heard he appeared to wield huge influence over some victims and had no qualms about leaving them "financially and emotionally wrecked".

Tait had originally faced a further 12 charges involving a total of 10 people and in excess of ?300,000, but the Crown accepted his not guilty pleas to those charges.

He married in 2002 but separated from his wife in 2006.

During the marriage he engaged in relationships with other women who he duped into believing he was single or separated. He asked two of them to marry him.

He claimed to work as a self-employed private investigator, but failed to keep up his registration with his professional body and there were no records of him working in a full-time capacity since 2003.

Tait, a registered bankrupt, was caught after his sister went to police and named others she believed had been conned by him.

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Burnt-out flat 'draws tourists'

29 July 2011 Last updated at 10:20 GMT Books are still stacked in the shelf on the wall of the destroyed flat A town centre building left gutted by a fire has become an unlikely draw for photographers.

Clothes store CeeGees and the flat above on Crieff High Street, Perthshire, were destroyed in the blaze on 7 June.

The building was demolished following the fire, but a shelf - complete with books and melted hi-fi - remains fixed to the second-floor wall.

An intact mirror and fireplace also appear suspended above the rubble.

A window with a blind and pelmet - seemingly untouched by the blaze - can be seen on the far wall as well, next to a framed print.

Locals said there was a regular stream of people stopping to take pictures of the strange sight, many of them posting their shots on photo-sharing websites.

The debris from the demolition is expected to be cleared soon

Steve Rodgers, who owns the Pretoria Bar opposite the destroyed building, said: "It's a daily occurrence. You see tourists and locals with their cameras. It's becoming quite an attraction for folk.

"I think it's the mirror above the fireplace that people like."

A man and woman had to be rescued from the flat above the shop during the blaze, which closed the main road through Crieff for several hours.

A local shopworker, who did not want to be named, said it was "upsetting" that the building was being constantly photographed.

He said: "To call it a tourist attraction would not be fair. It's an eyesore on the High Street. It's become quite depressing to look at.

"You can see a bookshelf and mirror still fixed on the wall and I can see why people would take pictures of it. But it's someone's life in ruins. It's sad."

Traffic has remained restricted through the centre of Crieff since the fire almost two months ago because of the debris from the demolition.

A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said the authority had been informed by the building's owner that the rubble would be cleared soon.

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Asbestos concern in factory fire

30 July 2011 Last updated at 08:45 GMT Firefighters have spent most of the night tackling a blaze at a linen factory in Fife.

They were called to the premises of Peter Greig & Co, in Kirkcaldy's Clair Street, at about 23:00 on Friday.

A spokesman for Fife Fire and Rescue said a decontamination team was brought in because of fears about asbestos.

The fire was eventually extinguished with the aid of an aerial rescue pump, and firefighters using breathing apparatus and a thermal image camera.

The extent of damage to the building is not yet known.

Fire crews in Fife were also called to fire at a derelict church in Dysart.

When they arrived at about 04:00 the building, Barony Church in Norman Road, was reported to be "heavily smoke logged".

The fire was extinguished and the building was ventilated.

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Probe into Don crossing purchases

28 July 2011 Last updated at 14:54 GMT A public inquiry has been called into the potential use of compulsory purchase orders for the planned third River Don crossing in Aberdeen.

The local authority has had long-held plans to build a bridge linking Tillydrone and Grandholm.

Many people own property along the way, and Transport Scotland said a hearing would be held in response to the number of objections.

The council said the inquiry would not consider the crossing plan itself.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: "Due to the volume of statutory objections received, this matter is being dealt with by way of a Public Local Inquiry.

"As such, the case has now been passed to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals to make arrangements for the inquiry.

"The scheme remains the responsibility of Aberdeen City Council and it is a matter for them to work towards resolving these objections."

The aim of the crossing is to improve access to the north of the city.

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Gers fail with new Goodwillie bid

By Jim Spence
BBC Scotland Goodwillie is understood to be attracting the interest of 10 clubs Dundee United have rejected a third bid from Rangers for David Goodwillie, but the striker will not be moving to Blackburn.

Rangers' latest offer for the 22-year-old is believed to be around ?1.6m, plus ?600,000 in add-ons.

That is ?600,000 less than Blackburn offered on Friday.

The English top-flight outfit had hoped to conclude a deal on Saturday, but that move is now off after Goodwillie failed to agree personal terms.

United had ageed a fee of ?2m up front with ?800,000 in add-ons with the Ewood Park side on.

A second bid from Rangers had been rejected on Friday, with the player's agent at that time concentrating on the Blackburn deal.

"We have not been given permission by Dundee United to speak to any club yet, so at the moment we are waiting on that permission being given," agent Liam O'Donnell told BBC Scotland.

Blackburn's initial bid of ?1.7m had been rejected earlier on Friday, but the English Premier League club came in with a fresh offer later in the evening.

It is understood that a sell-on clause, which has been included in the deal with the club managed by fellow Scotsman Steve Kean, could net United substantially more than the ?2.8m figure.

Continue reading the main story Made Dundee United debut in 2005 at the age of 16Scored first goal for the club shortly before 17th birthdayFinished season 2010/11 with 19 goalsMade Scotland debut against Faroe Islands in March

Ten clubs had expressed an interest in Goodwillie after a rape charge was dropped this week against the product of United's youth system.

And United chairman Stephen Thompson insisted all along that he would not accept any less than his ?2m valuation for the player.

Ahead of Blackburn's improved offer, United manager Peter Houston stressed: "I've said all along and I'll repeat it - if somebody comes in and offers the money we think is due, he'll be away. As simple as that.

"What they'll be getting is a guy who can score goals in the Premier League for fun, a strong player, a guy who might well soon get international recognition.

"As far as I'm concerned, we're not asking over the top for David Goodwillie - for a guy who scores 20-odd goals a season."

Rangers boss Ally McCoist had revealed on Friday that he remained keen on the player.

However, Houston has previously warned Goodwillie against a move to Glasgow because of the media spotlight there and suggested that the striker himself would prefer a move to English football.

Goodwillie earned his one and only Scotland cap in November against the Faroe Islands and, earlier this week, national coach Craig Levein said he will consider bringing the striker back into the national team set-up now that the rape charge was no longer a factor.

For Levein's Scotland assistant, Houston, the likely confirmation of Goodwillie's transfer will mean he can progress his own plans to strengthen a squad depleted by several summer departures.

Houston has stressed that he needed the cash boost from another exit from Tannadice to fund his own moves in the transfer marker.

"I need to bring some players in, but the only way I'm going to bring players in is if David or any of our players move on," he said.

"At this moment in time, I have to wait. It's status quo for me at the moment."

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Fire murder police in email hope

29 July 2011 Last updated at 15:13 GMT The deaths of eight-year-old Bridget and 21-year-old Thomas Sharkey are being treated as murder Police investigating a deliberate house fire which killed a man and his young sister have set up a dedicated email address for their murder inquiry.

Thomas Sharkey, 21, and eight-year-old Bridget died following the blaze at their home in Helensburgh on Sunday.

Their parents, Thomas snr, 55, and 46-year-old Angela, remain in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Police said they set up the email address and an extra phone number after a "huge response from the public".

Parents survived

The fire at the Sharkey family home in Helensburgh's Scott Court broke out at about 05:00 on Sunday.

Thomas Sharkey Jnr died in the blaze, while his sister Bridget died later in hospital.

Angela and Thomas Sharkey are being treated at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where Mrs Sharkey has still to be informed of her children's deaths.

Angela and Thomas Sharkey are being treated at Glasgow's Royal Infirmary

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Anne McKerchar, said officers had been "really encouraged by the response from the public who are clearly appalled at this cowardly and despicable crime".

"We are continuing to conduct door-to-door inquiries and are following a number of lines of enquiry," she said.

"We have always said that the key to this investigation will be someone in the community who knows who did this and the people in Helensburgh have responded to our call in great numbers.

"That's why we're setting up an additional phone line and dedicated email address.

"I continue to urge the public to come forward with information, it could be that small piece of information which completes the jigsaw and helps us catch the person or people who did this."

The additional number for people to call is 01389 822162. The dedicated email address is: operationendeavour@strathclyde.pnn.police.uk

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High earner wage rises criticised

28 July 2011 Last updated at 10:20 GMT A pay freeze was agreed earlier this year in order to avoid compulsory redundancies Senior executives at a Scots council have received pay rises at the same time as hundreds of lower ranking staff accepted a wage freeze, it has emerged.

Annual accounts for Scottish Borders Council reveal the salary increases for many of its top earners.

Unite union regional organiser Ian McDonald said it was an "intriguing and highly unfair way of sharing the pain".

Council leader David Parker said the difference was due to national negotiations which had taken place.

In March this year the GMB, Unite and Unison unions agreed to a three-year deal in order to help save the authority nearly ?5m.

The agreement was reached for workers earning more than ?21,000-a-year in return for a promise of no compulsory redundancies among union members during the same period.

However, figures for 2010/11 posted on the council's website show that high ranking officials still received large increases in wages from the previous year.

Outgoing chief executive David Hume saw his salary rise to ?123,008 from ?119,531 in 2009/10.

'Substantial increases'

Director of resources Tracey Logan picked up ?101,039 compared with ?96,470, while education chief Glenn Rodger and social work director Andrew Lowe also got rises of more than ?2,000.

Mr McDonald said: "Most employees in SBC had a pay rise of 0.65% in 2010, zero in 2011 and will get zero in 2012 which, with current and projected rates of inflation, is effectively a pay cut.

Continue reading the main story

I have already hard-pressed council tax payers asking about the massive pay outs that some employees are getting at SBC”

End Quote David Paterson Hawick councillor "Yet 107 already highly-paid officers get substantial increases in pay.

"It is an intriguing and highly unfair way of sharing the pain."

Hawick councillor David Paterson also criticised the situation.

"A loaf of bread costs the same for an ordinary employee as it does for a chief officer," he said.

"I have already hard-pressed council tax payers asking about the massive pay outs that some employees are getting at SBC."

Mr Parker said the difference in pay awards to staff in 2010/11 was due to different national negotiations that took place.

He explained: "Teachers and chief officers received a high rate of pay increase because they were in the final year of a three-year deal.

"A similar pay increase and three-year deal had been offered to all other staff but the unions representing them rejected that offer and chose to go for one-year agreements instead, which ultimately led to them receiving a worse deal than the one they had been offered and rejected three years previously."

Depute leader Alec Nicol added: "As part of the deal signed with the trade unions in March, we ensured over 2,000 staff - mostly women - earning less than ?21,000 per year were entitled to their normal incremental progression in 2011/12.

"Also over 600 employees - again mainly female staff - are to benefit from the establishment of a 'living wage' of ?7.15."

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BSkyB gives £1bn to shareholders

29 July 2011 Last updated at 12:52 GMT BSkyB chief executive Jeremy Darroch: "We've invested a lot in terms of what we put on screen and people like that"

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB is returning ?1bn to shareholders angered by the recent fall in share prices.

Its shares have fallen sharply in the past month after News Corporation abandoned its bid for BSkyB amid the phone-hacking scandal.

The company said it had gained 426,000 customers over the past year.

Operating profits, excluding earnings from non-core activities such as investments, rose 23% to ?1.07bn, while pre-tax profits fell 15% to ?1.01bn.

On Thursday, BSkyB's board confirmed that James Murdoch would stay on as company chairman, despite the phone-hacking scandal at News International, a News Corporation subsidiary where Mr Murdoch is also chairman.

Continue reading the main story BSkyB chief executive Jeremy Darroch told BBC News he did not think Sky's broadcasting licence was at risk, regardless of what the investigations into News International and News Corporation found.

"The licence is held by the company (BSkyB) and the company is controlled by a majority of independent directors at board level," he said.

"We have got strong systems of control and strong standards right throughout Sky. It just makes me even more determined to ensure that they stay in place."

BSkyB is raising its dividend 20% to 23.28 pence per share and has announced a ?750m share buyback.

This should help to placate shareholders, as the value of their shares has fallen 15% since in the past month.

Triple-play Continue reading the main story

One member of the board told me that the decision to back Mr Murdoch could not be seen as being forever. If evidence were to emerge that damaged the credibility of Mr Murdoch then the board would have to reconsider whether he needed to stand down.”

End Quote Robert Peston Business editor, BBC News BSkyB increased its customer base by 426,000 in the year to give it a total of 10,294,000 subscribers.

Average revenue per customer grew ?31 to ?539.

One of the key targets for media companies at the moment is persuading customers to subscribe to more of their products, combining fees for television access with services like broadband internet access and landline telephone services.

"Critically, they've put on a 37% increase in triple-play, that's people who take pay-TV, telephone and broadband," said Steve Hewlett from BBC Radio 4's Media Show.

"That's the holy grail - that's what everyone is after, and they've now got 27% of their customers, 2.8 million people, taking all three services."

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Councils set for bus lane powers

27 July 2011 Last updated at 23:19 GMT By Magnus Bennett BBC Scotland news website Three Scottish councils have requested powers to enforce bus lane restrictions New laws granting local authorities powers to enforce bus lane restrictions could be in place by the end of the year, it has emerged.

Transport Scotland has confirmed it is working on draft legislation for decriminalising bus lane offences.

It is understood the proposals could be ready to be put to the Scottish Parliament from the autumn.

The move follows a consultation process launched after approaches by Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen councils.

The councils stand to raise considerable sums from the introduction of the secondary legislation as it would mean they, rather than central government, could collect revenue raised from bus lane penalties.

Currently, fixed penalty notices for bus lane offences are handed out only by the police.

'Maximum benefit'

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "The consultation period has now completed and work continues to progress the legislation aspect of the bus lane enforcement regulations.

"We anticipate the regulations being made by the end of the year."

Continue reading the main story

Civil enforcement will allow the city to better respond to the problems created by the abuse of lanes by the minority of drivers”

End Quote Jim Coleman Glasgow City Council Glasgow City Council has already approved in principle taking over camera enforcement in bus lanes.

It expects to raise ?250,000 a year, after operating expenses, if the change is approved by parliament. The council said any money raised would be re-invested in transport-related projects.

Last year, Strathclyde Police issued 3,455 fixed penalty notices for bus lane infringements in the Glasgow area.

Jim Coleman, Glasgow City Council executive member for land and environment, said the council had invested heavily in public transport and was committed to ensuring "maximum benefit" for passengers, other road users and the city.

He added: "To do that, we have to ensure the valuable facilities we have provided are able to be used efficiently and for many years now have sought powers to deal with bus lane enforcement which is, perhaps understandably, not a policing priority.

"Civil enforcement will allow the city to better respond to the problems created by the abuse of lanes by the minority of drivers who inconvenience thousands of travellers and threaten safety."

'Enhanced efficiency'

Aberdeen City Council said it welcomed the news that substantial progress was now being made in finalising the necessary secondary legislation governing the civil enforcement of bus lanes.

A spokesman said: "We have been pressing the Scottish government and Transport Scotland for several years to complete the paperwork and hope that Scottish parliamentary scrutiny of the draft legislation towards the end of this year throws up no last-minute snags.

"Decriminalisation will allow the city council to take over enforcement from the police and exert tighter controls on misuse of the bus lanes."

He added: "The city council has made a substantial investment in the bus lane network to help deliver reliable public transport.

"Stricter enforcement will enhance the efficiency of the bus lanes by reducing delays to buses and improving bus journey reliability."

Earlier this year, Edinburgh City Council launched a tender for five portable cameras in the expectation of legislative changes.

The authority said the cameras would allow the city to enforce "known problem sites" more efficiently while freeing up police resources.

It expects to break even on the expected initial ?293,000 capital cost of the cameras within a few years.

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Fletcher wants Smith at Man Utd

By Chick Young
BBC Scotland Fletcher and Smith first worked together when the former Rangers boss was assistant manager at Manchester United. Manchester United's Darren Fletcher says Walter Smith could be a future manager of the club.

The Scotland captain says he is impressed by Scottish coaching invasion of England's top division, and thinks Smith could return to England.

"Walter Smith would be a fantastic manager for any club in England and I mean any club," Fletcher told BBC Scotland.

"I think he deserves to be at a big club because he is that good."

Speaking exclusively to Sportsound on BBC Radio Scotland, Fletcher revealed that he thinks the former Rangers boss could replace Sir Alex Ferguson.

"He still has a lot to give and when Sir Alex eventually retires I would even love to see him at Manchester United. He would be a great replacement," Fletcher said of the 63-year-old who spent a spell as assistant manager at United in 2004.

"I would urge anyone down here looking for a manager to take him. I was delighted to hear that when he left Rangers he wasn't retiring from the game."

"Walter is just a fantastic manager, I have so much respect for him.

"My first experience of him was when he came to Manchester United as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson and then of course with Scotland where he did a fantastic job.

"He put us in a great position to qualify.

"He is a great manager but I saw the other side of him as an assistant and he was brilliant at that.

"He took some great sessions at training and the Manchester United boys loved him.

"He was a breath of fresh air and that side of him was something I didn't really expect."

And Fletcher is pleased that the reputation of other Scottish managers is growing south of the border.

"Our coaches are really making an impact on the game in England and everyone has huge respect for them.

"The lads in our dressing room think it is the accent.

"People seem to pay attention when a Scots voice barks orders.

"There is something demanding about the Scottish accent," says Fletcher.

"Maybe one day I will be among them. I am doing my coaching badges now and some time in the future, you never know."

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Toxic drug seized in Fraserburgh

29 July 2011 Last updated at 08:56 GMT A highly-toxic class-A drug - which was the subject of a recent police warning after being linked to deaths - has been seized in Fraserburgh.

Grampian Police said a dealer quantity of ParaMethoxyMethylAmphetamine (PMMA) had been recovered.

The force said it was a white, solidly-compressed powder, similar in appearance to crack cocaine.

It is suspected it may have been supplied to users as either ecstasy or amphetamine.

'Extremely concerning'

Insp Andy Imray, substance misuse co-ordinator for the force, said: "It is very worrying that this drug has been found in the region. It has been linked with deaths in mainland Europe.

"Very little is known about this drug and the variety of forms it has been detected in is extremely concerning.

"Users of any controlled or uncontrolled substance, not only those taking recreational drugs, need to be alert to the presence of PMMA and the very serious risks it presents to their health and wellbeing."

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Levein happy with World Cup draw

Levein would rather have avoided Wales, despite Scotland's Carling Nations Cup win in May. Craig Levein says he's happy with Scotland's World Cup draw, after being paired with Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Wales and Macedonia.

There are no minnows, with Wales, who have beaten the Scots twice in three meetings, the lowest-ranked team.

But the Scots missed being drawn with major nations like holders Spain, Italy, Germany and England.

"It could be a lot worse," the Scotland manager said.

""With every draw like this there will be a lot of homework to be done on our opposition - and I am not going to try and make predictions at this early stage.

"However, I am confident that this squad has the talent and the collective determination to succeed but we will have to work hard.

"Belgium was probably the toughest team we could have drawn from pot three and in Serbia and Croatia we have drawn two very accomplished teams and all of these games will provide a very tough challenge for my squad."

Croatia are the top seeds in the group and they will face Balkan derbies with Serbia and Macedonia.

Scotland, who had gone into the draw among the fourth seeds, would have been hoping to have come out of the hat with the likes of Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra or San Marino from the pot six.

Instead, they face British Isles rivals Wales, who Craig Levein's side defeated 3-1 the last time they met in May.

However, the Welsh manager, Gary Speed, had been denied a number of his top players for that Carling Nations Cup meeting in Dublin.

And the Scots have lost 3-0 and 4-0 on their last two visits to the principality, in 2009 and 2004 respectively.

Levein said: "I would have rather avoided Wales because obviously it brings in that home international rivalry, which we probably could have done without.

"We have recent good experience of playing Wales, when we won against them over in Dublin recently, but also not so long ago we lost 3-0 to Wales, so it's a bit of a mixed bag.

"But I look at that group Wales were in and I don't think there's any doubt there are other teams in there I would rather have played."

The Scots might have preferred to have faced Norway or Greece from the group of top seeds.

Scotland drew 1-1 with Croatia in a 2008 friendly match

However, they missed being drawn with Spain, England, Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and Italy - and their record against Croatia is a good one.

The Scots have yet to lose after three meetings and three draws, the last being in a 2008 friendly.

From pot two, Levein's side also avoided potentially the most difficult opponents in France and instead will face Serbia for the first time.

"There is no coincidence that Croatia are in pot one and Serbia pot two," said Levein, who admits he does not know much about either of those sides.

"A lot of people don't maybe know an awful lot about them, but it's not a lottery - they have had to earn their places.

"They've obviously had very good results in competitions recently. We have to give everybody their due respect.

"Some of the dangers are that when people don't see a Spain or a Holland or an England come out in pot one, they think 'oh, that's an easy team to play against' without knowing the strengths of the opposition.

"That's something I have to get up to speed with very quickly.

"I know a bit about Belgium - they're improving, in particular with regard to the younger age groups - and Macedonia we have recent experience of."

The Scots have a poor record against Belgium, but the two sides have not met since Craig Brown's side lost 2-0 in Brussels to end their World Cup qualifying hopes in 2001.

Macedonia are the second lowest ranked side in Group A, but a 1-0 defeat in Skopje seriously dented the Scots' 2010 World Cup qualifying hopes despite a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture.

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Man dies after car strikes bridge

30 July 2011 Last updated at 14:33 GMT A 19-year-old man has died after the car he was driving collided with a railway bridge in Fife.

Fife Police said the accident involving a Citroen Saxo happened at about 09:45 on Station Road in Lochgelly.

The road has been closed while officers investigate the collision. They have appealed for any witnesses to make contact with them.

The identity of the man who died will not be released until next of kin have been informed.

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Search for new 2014 Games chief

29 July 2011 Last updated at 10:31 GMT John Scott resigned after breaking the rules on accepting hospitality and gifts Organisers of Glasgow's Commonwealth Games have begun a worldwide search for a new chief executive following the resignation last month of John Scott.

John Scott stood down after accepting, but failing to declare, an offer from a potential supplier.

His replacement will be appointed by a nominations committee, comprising Glasgow 2014 chairman Lord Smith and members from partner organisations.

The salary will depend on the experience of the individual selected.

Track record

Lord Smith said: "We have started our global search to get the best candidate possible to deliver an athlete centred, sport focused Commonwealth Games.

"With three years to go, we need someone with a proven track record at an international level and passion for sport.

"We are starting with an open book here and will consider anyone from home or away who meets the criteria.

"We want the best for Glasgow and the best for Scotland, and that's why we're looking as far and wide as we can to bring the best person to the table to make Glasgow 2014 the success we want it to be."

Short-listed candidates will be invited to take part in an interview process before the final decision is made by the nominations committee.

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Zara Phillips marries in Scotland

30 July 2011 Last updated at 14:55 GMT Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips emerge from Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh The Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips has married England rugby player Mike Tindall at a ceremony in Edinburgh.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were among those at the wedding in Canongate Kirk on a sunny Royal Mile.

Hundreds of well-wishers lined the streets for Scotland's first royal wedding in almost 20 years.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Catherine, and Prince Harry were also attending the ceremony and reception at Holyroodhouse.

The Reverend Neil Gardner welcomed guests up the Royal Mile, including the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

The bride's dress, an ivory silk and satin gown, was designed by Stewart Parvin, one of the Queen's favourite couturiers. This was accompanied by a veil, tiara and Jimmy Choo shoes.

It is Scotland's first royal wedding in almost 20 years

The doors of the Canongate Kirk were closed to the press and public, but hundreds of well-wishers gathered in Edinburgh's Old Town to watch the arrival and departure of the Royal Family.

After the ceremony the couple emerged arm-in-arm, stood on the steps to the entrance to the 17 Century kirk and shared a kiss.

The newlyweds arrived back at the palace as the Royal Scots Association pipe band played.

Among the crowds who turned out for the day was Jackie Rushton, 48, from Yorkshire, who told BBC Scotland: "I just love anything to do with the Royal Family, I'm a big fan, I have great respect for them."

Another well-wisher, Margaret Kittle, 76, travelled from Winona in Canada to see the wedding.

She said: "I've come to all the royal weddings since Princess Anne and Mark Phillips' wedding.

"I like to come to the weddings and all the royal occasions that I can, because the Queen is queen of Canada."

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Zara Phillips is believed to be setting a royal precedent by not taking the surname of Mike Tindall.

Even when they marry commoners, Royal brides have always adopted the family name of their partners.

When Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, daughter of Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon, wed Daniel Chatto in 1994 she took on his name.

Zara's decision appears to be based on the fact she wants to preserve her sporting persona and business interests.

The former equestrian world champion is known throughout the sport as Zara Phillips and she has signed a number of deals which help fund her sporting interests.

Other guests included Prince Andrew and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The private afternoon ceremony will be followed by a reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The couple hosted a pre-wedding party on the royal yacht Britannia, which is moored in Leith, on Friday night.

They had previously attended a rehearsal for the ceremony at the kirk with the bride's parents, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips.

Princess Anne's second marriage, to Timothy Laurence, was the last Scottish royal wedding in 1992.

Zara, 30, will keep her maiden name when she marries. It is understood this is because of her sporting career in equestrianism.

Mr Tindall, from Otley in Yorkshire, plays for club side Gloucester and has been capped more than 60 times for his country.

He invited some of England's best-known rugby players to the wedding.

He and best man Iain Balshaw were part of England's winning 2003 rugby World Cup squad in Australia, where the couple were introduced by Zara's cousin Prince Harry.

Lothian and Borders Police said they had been working with the Palace and Edinburgh City Council to ensure the event's smooth running.

Supt Ivor Marshall, who is the Silver Commander responsible for overseeing security arrangements, said the kirk's location, close to both the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, yet set on the busy tourist hub of the Royal Mile, presented unique challenges.

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Rail services get back to normal

29 July 2011 Last updated at 11:40 GMT Engineers worked through the night to get the train removed Trains in and out of Edinburgh's Waverley station, disrupted by a derailment, have returned to normal.

An empty train came off the tracks as it was passing through the Princes Street Gardens cutting on Wednesday night.

The carriages were removed overnight and the tracks reopened following an inspection.

The work was carried out after the majority of the services on Thursday's emergency timetable had run.

Network Rail said it had re-opened all four rail lines in Princes Street Gardens at about 04:30.

Disruption had been expected to continue until Saturday.

Rail investigation

A ScotRail spokeswoman said: "We are pleased to be able to fully re-open all four affected rail lines a day earlier than originally advised."

Nick King, spokesman for Network Rail, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme engineers had managed to get onto the line at about 21:00 on Thursday.

The train was being moved when it slipped off the tracks, blocking the line

"We switched off the electricity to the power lines above the train and we were able to bring in a special vehicle which we used to jack up the bogeys that came off the rails," he said.

He added that engineers were then able to put the train back onto the rails allowing it to drive away.

"Because we got the works done quicker than expected we were able to bring forward the track and points repairs that were required," he said.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been examining the site of the derailment.

The empty train was being moved from Cowdenbeath to Edinburgh Waverley station when it came off the tracks.

Neither the driver nor conductor were injured.

Network Rail apologised for any inconvenience caused to passengers and said the investigation into the cause of the derailment was ongoing.

Following the derailment, services to the west and north of Edinburgh had been terminating and starting at Haymarket Station instead.

Buses also operated between Waverley and Haymarket until end of service on Thursday night.

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New bid in ambulance 'break' row

29 July 2011 Last updated at 22:10 GMT A dispute is ongoing between the Scottish Ambulance Service and staff over meal breaks The Scottish Ambulance Service is expected to table a new proposal next week to resolve a dispute with its crews over breaks.

Unions have rejected an offer of a one-off payment and overtime if staff are called out during a meal period.

The row is centred on unpaid rest breaks taken by crews.

It follows a case in October last year where a woman died in Tomintoul despite there being a local ambulance driver less than half a mile away.

He was on a break and paramedics had to be dispatched 15 miles away in Grantown to the case of Mandy Mathieson, 33.

She died from a heart attack in the remote Moray village of Tomintoul in October 2010.

A few months later, a three-year-old boy died near Crieff in Perthshire while the local ambulance crew was on a rest break. The crew was not told there was an emergency nearby.

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The Scottish Ambulance Service suggested they were planning to put forward a written response early next week, containing fresh proposals on the subject”

End Quote Harry Donaldson GMB regional secretary Employers had been offered an annual payment of ?250 and 45 minutes compensatory overtime to provide cover during mealtimes, but union members from the GMB union, Unite and Unison turned it down.

Representatives from the three unions, the Scottish Ambulances Service and the government met in Edinburgh on Friday and there were indications a new solution would be out to the unions next week.

GMB regional secretary Harry Donaldson said: "There doesn't seem to have been a great deal to come out of the meeting. But the Scottish Ambulance Service suggested they were planning to put forward a written response early next week, containing fresh proposals on the subject."

However, an ambulance service spokesman said the meeting was "very constructive".

He said: "The Scottish Ambulance Service remains committed to working with staff to achieve a resolution to the rest-break issue."

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said she was "encouraged" by the meeting.

She said: "I have been clear that current arrangements for handling rest breaks in the ambulance service cannot remain in place. I am encouraged by the positive meeting held today and pleased to see that dialogue is ongoing. All parties are aware of the need to find a satisfactory resolution as quickly as possible."

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Woman fined for assault on leader

29 July 2011 Last updated at 12:38 GMT John Stewart was assaulted in Aberdeen's Kirkgate Bar A woman who assaulted former Aberdeen City Council leader John Stewart in a pub as he was "cheeky" has been fined.

Council employee Sally Farrer, 37, hit Mr Stewart in the Kirkgate Bar, near the council headquarters, on 3 March, when he was leader.

Lib Dem Mr Stewart - who announced in June he was stepping down - was injured in the attack.

Morgue worker Farrer admitted the offence at Aberdeen Justice of the Peace Court and was fined ?160.

Fiscal depute Kelly Mitchell said Farrer approached Mr Stewart and told him she was unhappy with her living situation.

The court heard Mr Stewart gave Farrer advice and contact details for her local councillor.

However, the fiscal depute said Farrer returned to the bar almost six hours later and attacked Mr Stewart.

She said: "The accused punched him twice on the face, shouting 'you had no intention of helping me'.

"She was banned from the premises and police were called."

Defence agent Ian Merideth said: "She remembers being under the impression that the complainer had said something that she found quite cheeky and lashed out at him.

"She accepts that this is unacceptable."

Farrer was also handed an exclusion order banning her from the bar for three months.

She declined to comment as she left court.

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Regular flying ends at RAF base

31 July 2011 Last updated at 02:30 GMT RAF Kinloss was home to Nimrod surveillance aircraft Regular flying operations are coming to an end at RAF Kinloss.

Aviation facilities will be maintained until the RAF leaves the Moray station in 2013.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox announced earlier this month that nearby RAF Lossiemouth will be the only air base retained in Scotland.

Kinloss, along with RAF Leuchars in Fife, will become a base for the army as a result of changes Mr Fox described as a "coherent long-term strategy".

RAF Kinloss was home to Nimrod surveillance aircraft before all of those stationed there were retired in 2010.

The overall effect of the moves announced by the defence secretary will be to increase the number of service personnel based in Scotland.

At the time of the announcement, Mr Fox said: "The overall package I have announced today is good news for our armed forces and means that they can look forward to the future with renewed confidence."

RAF Kinloss began life in 1939 as a pilot training school.

It had been constructed in less than a year, as Britain prepared for the looming conflict in Europe.

Links with the local community were marked in 1962 by the station being given the freedom of the burgh of Forres, the first military unit to have been given the honour in the burgh's 1,400 year history.

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Council leader denies 'assault'

29 July 2011 Last updated at 15:38 GMT Derek Milligan has been the leader of Midlothian Council for more than four years An alleged assault by Midlothian Council leader Derek Milligan on a man in a social club is being investigated by the police.

The local authority's leader has strongly denied the allegations which are understood to have been made by a 40-year-old man.

Police said they were investigating an incident which took place at Bonnyrigg Rose Social Club on Monday.

The club said it had CCTV cameras and was helping the police investigation.

A police spokesman said: "Lothian and Borders police can confirm that they have received a report of assault which occurred during the early hours of Monday, 25 July outside the premises of Bonnyrigg Rose Football Club.

"Inquiries are continuing."

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Snooker club will be demolished

29 July 2011 Last updated at 14:27 GMT Parts of Victoria Road have been closed off for safety reasons A snooker club in Glasgow's south side is to be demolished after suffering a roof collapse on Thursday night.

Building control officers decided that The Q Club, in Victoria Road, should be taken down on safety grounds after assessing the damage.

Specialist machinery is being brought in from Ayrshire and work is expected to get under way on Friday.

Part of the road remains closed and some flats in front of the club have been evacuated.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: "Safety is paramount. Residents evacuated from flats in front of The Q Club can not be allowed to return to their properties until the demolition is complete and their homes deemed safe.

"Victoria Road will also remain closed between Calder Street and Cuthbertson Street while the work takes place, as will Kingarth Street between Victoria Road and Pollokshaws Road. Diversions are in place."

No-one was in the snooker club at the time of the roof collapse and there were no casualties.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Thursday at about 18:00.

Gas and electricity workers were also called in.

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Death threat man gets eight years

29 July 2011 Last updated at 11:27 GMT A man who threatened to kill two former work colleagues in Aberdeenshire and illegally held a gun has been jailed for eight years.

Former heroin addict Joseph Russell, 31, was found guilty of the offences which were committed in Peterhead.

Russell was also found guilty of being concerned in the supply of the Class B drug amphetamine.

He was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh, where Lord Pentland said they were "serious" offences.

The judge said he regarded the conviction for possessing a pistol, which was in working order, along with ammunition "as very troubling in view of your criminal propensities".

Defence solicitor advocate George Mathers said: "It has to be accepted that the combination of drugs, threats, guns and prohibited ammunition make this a matter of the utmost seriousness."

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Benefits woman gets £46,000 order

29 July 2011 Last updated at 14:38 GMT An Aberdeenshire mother jailed for fraudulently claiming benefits has had a ?46,000 confiscation order made against her.

Gillian Morris, 51, from Ellon, was jailed for 11 months in January over benefits of more than ?50,000.

She had claimed she was a single mother, living in rented accommodation with no income.

A confiscation order of ?46,855 has now been made at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Morris had been living with her husband in a jointly-owned home with access to a shared bank account.

She admitted housing, council tax and income support fraud over several years.

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Life sentence for teen abductor

28 July 2011 Last updated at 17:09 GMT John McPhee was charged with offences going back to 2006, the High Court in Edinburgh heard A Caithness man who abducted a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for nine months and given a life-long restriction order.

John McPhee, 58, struck as his victim was leaving a house in Thurso, but she escaped after sending a text message to a friend who came to her aid.

He earlier admitted the abduction, which took place on 25 November last year, at the High Court in Edinburgh.

McPhee also admitted three charges of breach of the peace and one of assault.

His arrest after the November incident led to him being charged with other offences, going back to June 2006.

Police were unable to prosecute at the time because a lack of evidence, judge Lord Stewart heard.

During the abduction of the 14-year-old, McPhee asked the girl for sex and, too frightened to dial 999, she asked a friend to help instead.

The court also heard McPhee made unwelcome advances to a 33-year-old woman at a party in Thurso, in June 2006.

He had also invited two 14-year-olds to his home some time during the school holiday of that year and also begged for sex while a 32-year-old woman was doing her washing.

McPhee also attacked a 15-year-old girl in a house in Thurso, pushing her back onto a couch before she was able to flee.

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Two killed in motorbike collision

31 July 2011 Last updated at 09:23 GMT Two people have died in a collision between a motorbike and a car in Caithness.

The crash happened at Drumhollistan on the A836 Thurso to Reay road at 13:10 on Saturday.

The motorbike rider, a 45-year-old man, and the pillion passenger, a woman also aged 45, sustained fatal injuries.

Northern Constabulary closed the road for seven hours while the scene was investigated. A report is to be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Police have appealed for help from a van driver who was travelling west and was overtaken by a motorbike shortly before the collision.

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Highland cows break out of city park

30 July 2011 Last updated at 16:02 GMT Efforts have been taking place to round up a fold of Highland cows which broke out of a country park in Glasgow.

Reports of the roaming cattle came in to police at about 10:10 after the six cows and a bull were spotted in parts of the south side of the city.

They had escaped from their home in Pollok Park and some made it as far as Battlefield, more than a mile away.

Park rangers have been involved in capturing the animals, which have caused damage to a number of cars.

Pollok Country Park houses Glasgow City Council's pedigree fold of Highland Cattle.

The original owners of the land, the Maxwell Family, bred prizewinning cattle there in the early 19th Century.

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Landlords' cannabis farm warning

29 July 2011 Last updated at 15:23 GMT Houses are often modified to accommodate the cannabis farms Police have warned central Scotland landlords to be vigilant after discovering 19 cannabis cultivations in five months, many in rented houses.

Detectives said the finds ranged from small "domestic" set-ups to complex operations growing hundreds of plants.

Some of the cultivations are also suspected to have links to organised crime.

Central Scotland Police said many of the larger scale operations were in rented properties.

Ceiling holes

The force has uncovered three cannabis cultivations this month, seizing about 1,300 plants and ?600,000 in cash.

Typically, the properties involved are privately owned and rented out for about six months at a time.

Det Supt Cameron Cavin said: "In the cases of the large-scale cultivations there has been significant damage caused to the structure of the houses.

"Internal walls have been knocked down and holes made in the ceilings to accommodate the essential equipment to grow the plants on a large scale.

"Plastic sheeting is used to cover the walls and windows to create an indoor greenhouse. Industrial lights and heaters are used to create maximum heat for ideal growing conditions."

Det Supt Cavin said landlords should check their properties regularly and make sure their rent was paid by direct debit rather than cash.

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Major wave energy scheme in doubt

29 July 2011 Last updated at 13:43 GMT The project aims to harness the wave power off the coast of Lewis Plans for one of the world's largest wave energy schemes are in doubt, due to financial problems at one of the firms involved.

The Siadar project, off the west coast of Lewis, was a joint venture between RWE Npower Renewables and Inverness-based Wavegen.

But RWE had confirmed it was no longer proceeding with the development.

It was hoped the scheme would generate 4MW of electricity by next year - enough to power 2,500 local homes.

Last year, ministers announced a ?6m allocation of funding to the 10-turbine project, under the Waters fund, supported by the government, Scottish and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the European Regional Development Fund.

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Arrests in metal theft operation

29 July 2011 Last updated at 11:18 GMT Lothian and Borders Police have arrested 16 people as part of an operation to tackle the theft of metal and heavy plant equipment.

Operation Adamant was launched across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Scottish Borders.

Police have been carrying out high-visibility patrols in areas where plant material is used and stored.

Community officers have also been checking for suspicious activity at addresses where metal is kept.

Police said the main focus of the operation was to prevent thefts occurring.

Officers have been identifying potentially vulnerable sites in order to offer advice to residents and businesses.

A police spokesman said: "The theft of metal causes significant damage to properties and can have massive financial implications.

"This was not a one-off operation and Lothian and Borders Police will continue to work alongside our communities to ensure businesses and local residents are equipped with all the necessary information to prevent metal thefts in their area.

"Anyone who is identified as making a financial gain through the theft of metal or plant equipment will be robustly dealt with."

All of those arrested in connection with the alleged metal thefts have appeared at court.

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Newsagent jailed for obscene DVDs

28 July 2011 Last updated at 14:08 GMT Ronald Smart ran the obscene video business from a newsagent in his home town of Castle Douglas A newsagent who ran a mail order business distributing obscene videos and DVDs has been jailed for 11 months.

A sheriff told Ronald Smart, 42, of Abercromby Road, Castle Douglas, there was no alternative to a prison term.

He admitted distributing the material from Barry Smart newsagents on the town's King Street between February 2005 and November 2007.

Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court heard he committed the offence shortly after a previous sentence for a similar crime.

Smart admitted selling obscene videos and DVDs at an earlier hearing.

A not guilty plea was accepted to a charge of taking, permitting to be taken or making four indecent images of children.

Bill McVicar, representing Smart, argued that a custodial sentence would not be appropriate in this case and the public interest would be better served by imposing the maximum period of probation and a community penalty.

However, Sheriff Shirley Foran said he had shown disregard for both the law and his family and handed him a jail term.

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Museum reopening attracts crowds

29 July 2011 Last updated at 18:07 GMT The three-year refurbishment programme has seen storage areas turned into public space, making it one of the UK's largest museums

More than 22,000 people have visited the National Museum of Scotland's newly-refurbished Victorian building on its opening day.

About 2,000 people gathered outside the Edinburgh attraction as they waited for the museum doors to open to the public following a ?47.4m refit.

Chambers Street was closed to traffic for the event, which involved live entertainment on the museum steps.

A spokeswoman said 20,017 visitors came to the museum during the day.

The 10,000th visitor had entered the building by midday, she added.

Sixteen new galleries take visitors on a journey through the wonders of nature, the cultures of the world and through to science and discovery.

More than 8,000 objects were on display in the new area, 80% for the first time in generations.

About 2,000 people enjoyed live entertainment while waiting for the doors to open

The three-year programme has seen the original interior restored and storage areas turned into public space, making it one of the UK's largest museums.

It means the whole museum, situated in Chambers Street in the Old Town, will have 20,000 objects across 36 galleries.

Exhibits range from a life-sized skeleton cast of a Tyrannosaurus Rex to specimens collected by Charles Darwin and 3,000-year-old mummies.

The project has been jointly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Scottish government and private donations.

Working with Scottish architect Gareth Hoskins and exhibition designer Ralph Appelbaum, National Museums Scotland has also restored Victorian architecture, created new galleries, a major gallery to host international exhibitions, a three-storey learning centre and a new street-level stone-vaulted entrance hall.

Glass lifts carry visitors from the entrance hall to the Grand Gallery, housing the UK's single largest museum installation, the Window on the World: a four-storey, 18-metre (59ft) high display of more than 800 objects.

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Father becomes third fire victim

30 July 2011 Last updated at 12:58 GMT Thomas Sharkey Snr was being treated at Glasgow's Royal Infirmary A father who escaped a deliberate house fire which killed his two children has died in hospital.

Thomas Sharkey Snr, 55, died six days after Thomas Jnr, 21, and his sister Bridget, eight. The flat fire broke out in Helensburgh, in Dunbartonshire, early last Sunday.

More than 50 police officers are investigating what is now being treated as a triple murder inquiry.

Thomas Snr, 55, and his wife Angela, 46, were both taken to hospital.

Mr Sharkey died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on Saturday morning.

He had initially been unaware of the deaths of his children, but his condition had improved enough for him to be informed on Tuesday.

The fire at the Sharkey family home in Helensburgh's Scott Court broke out at about 05:00 on Sunday.

Thomas Sharkey Jnr died in the blaze, while his sister Bridget died later in hospital.

Mr Sharkey was informed of the deaths of Bridget and Thomas Jnr

In a statement, Mrs Sharkey's sister said the family had been left "shattered, devastated and angry".

Strathclyde Police have set up an incident room, dedicated phone line and email address for their murder inquiry.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Det Ch Insp Anne McKerchar, said officers had been encouraged by the response from the public, who were "clearly appalled at this cowardly and despicable crime".

"We are continuing to conduct door-to-door inquiries and are following a number of lines of inquiry," she said.

"We have always said that the key to this investigation will be someone in the community who knows who did this and the people in Helensburgh have responded to our call in great numbers."

The inquiry number for people to call is 01389 822162. The dedicated email address is: operationendeavour@strathclyde.pnn.police.uk

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Couple lose US extradition appeal

29 July 2011 Last updated at 12:26 GMT The couple say they were running a legitimate chemical business A couple accused of supplying chemicals to crystal meth dealers over the internet have lost their appeal against extradition to the United States.

Brian and Kerry Ann Howes, from Bo'ness, near Falkirk, are said to have sold legal chemicals which were then used to make illegal drugs in the US.

The pair maintain they ran a legitimate business and have been fighting extradition for more than four years.

Their lawyers are now considering a further appeal to the European Court.

The pair were arrested by Central Scotland Police in 2007, amid claims they supplied more than 40 chemicals to dealers via the online company Lab Chemicals International.

No UK trial

The charges against Mr and Mrs Howes allege they used their internet company to supply red phosphorous and iodine to 400 customers in the US, most of whom were producing methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth.

Red phosphorous and iodine are legal in Britain, but regulated in the US.

The case falls under the 2003 Extradition Act which allows the extradition of people to the US without any trial taking place in the UK, removing the need for US authorities to provide prima facie evidence of criminality.

An extradition order was made by the Scottish government on 29 May 2008.

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It is a sad, but unavoidable, fact of life that the consequences of criminal proceedings often affect the family of the wrongdoer more severely than the wrongdoer themself”

End Quote Appeal Court ruling The Appeal Court upheld certain parts of the appeal, but ruled the extradition must go ahead as the couple had failed to establish that the action would be a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Judges Lord Osborne, Lord Reed and Lord Mackay of Drumadoon said the alleged offences were of an "extremely serious nature".

The allegations include deliberately mislabelling chemicals sent to the US in a bid to avoid detection.

The ruling said: "This conduct is alleged to have been persisted in over a period of years, despite searches of the appellants' premises, the seizure of evidence, and a warning to desist by the United States authorities.

"The highly dangerous nature of methamphetamine is reflected in the fact that it has, since 2007, been classified in the United Kingdom as a Class A drug in terms of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971."

Mr and Mrs Howes face being separated from their children if they are extradited to the US, but the judges said the impact on the private life of the couple was "proportionate".

They added: "The court proceeded on the basis that there is a risk that the children may require to be taken into care and that there is a risk, in that eventuality, that they may require to be separated.

"The court observed that it is a sad, but unavoidable, fact of life that the consequences of criminal proceedings often affect the family of the wrongdoer more severely than the wrongdoer themself."

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Call for retail project expansion

29 July 2011 Last updated at 07:41 GMT Mnemonic Photography is one of the new Torry businesses A Dragons' Den-style challenge to regenerate an Aberdeen community should be rolled out across Scotland, it has been claimed.

The winners of Retail Rocks were given empty shop units rent free for a year in the Torry area, plus ongoing business support.

The budding entrepreneurs say trading has got off to a good start.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) called for other Scottish councils to adopt the project.

The scheme, backed by the public and private sector, was the first of its kind in Scotland.

BBC Scotland has learned discussions are already at an early stage with East Lothian Council and East Ayrshire Council to replicate it.

Mnemonic Photography, run by Steven Bedford and Lindsay Stott, is one of the new Torry businesses, which is being run from a former boarded-up unit.

They said their first two weeks had been even busier than expected, with people coming in off the street as well as finding them through sources such as Twitter.

The local community has also welcomed the project as something offering hope to young people in the area.

Retail Rocks is being funded by the Scottish government, the city council and local businesses.

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Glasgow Hogmanay party scrapped

29 July 2011 Last updated at 10:08 GMT More than 4,000 people usually attend the traditional George Square party Glasgow's traditional Hogmanay party in George Square has been scrapped after the city council decided it was no longer delivering value for money.

Instead, the focus will switch to family-friendly events aimed at boosting the day and nighttime economy.

This year's event will finish at 22:00 and feature music, ceilidh dancing and curling on the George Square ice rink.

The council said with services under pressure it was "imperative that we get the best bang for every Glasgow buck".

Value concerns

Council leader Gordon Matheson said: "At the moment we are being asked to justify spending ?34 of public money per head on an event which just isn't delivering value and indeed received a fair amount of negative feedback last year."

Continue reading the main story Jamie McIvor BBC Scotland local government correspondent

Glasgow's decision to scrap the party at the bells in George Square is bound to attract some bad publicity. Claims a hard-up council is acting like a party pooper seem inevitable.

While the need to save money is focusing minds at councils across Scotland, there is a very real question over whether the midnight event represented value for money for Glasgow City Council anyway.

The George Square celebrations attracted some big names over the years but were always modest compared to the massive celebrations in the Scottish capital Edinburgh.

The crowds along the length of Princes Street include visitors from all across Scotland, the rest of the UK and far beyond. Indeed Edinburgh's programme of Hogmanay celebrations give a big boost to the capital's tourist industry during what would otherwise be a quite spell.

The George Square party, in contrast, mostly attracts Glaswegians

The hope is the family events which will replace the midnight party will prove better value for money and more enjoyable to more people - perhaps even making the city more attractive to visitors.

Although there is a long Scottish tradition of bringing in the New Year in the open air, in many parts of the country that tradition came under threat or died out completely. Instead people began to bring in the New Year at home or with their friends.

In the 1990s though, many cities and large towns started to revive open air festivities.

Glasgow is not the first city to scrap its party at the bells. Aberdeen stopped its big city centre celebrations two years ago to focus on smaller events. Some other places, such as Stirling, have scaled back their midnight celebrations.

And while there is no threat to Edinburgh's Hogmanay, some have spoken about whether the private sector may have to foot a greater share of the cost in the future.

He added: "This is on top of the ?19 ticket price we are asking the public to pay.

"Contrast that with the free fireworks display in November which costs the council just ?1.50 per head, or the hugely popular Christmas lights switch on which costs ?6 per head to stage, and I think most people would agree that Hogmanay in the Square is not good value for money."

Glasgow's traditional Hogmanay celebrations attracts 4,500 to George Square but the council said this was only "a fraction of those out and about in the city" to celebrate the New Year.

The council now plans to focus resources on the existing "Glasgow Loves Christmas" events across the festive period.

This will dovetail with a "Glasgow Loves Hogmanay" series of events on 31 December which will be co-ordinated with the city's hospitality industry.

The aim is to create a family day in George Square rather than a one-off party.

Councillor Matheson added: "At a time when frontline services are under extreme financial pressure it is imperative that we get the best bang for every Glasgow buck and that is not what is happening at the moment."

He added: "The change means that the ice rink and all the other hugely popular attractions in George Square can be open to families and visitors on Hogmanay and New Year's Day which previously hasn't been possible for operational reasons.

"With special Hogmanay events up until 10pm, such as curling on the ice rink and a ceilidh, George Square will have a welcoming family feel to it throughout the New Year period."

The decision to ditch the traditional Hogmanay party has been backed by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Commercial director Richard Muir said: "The entertainment economy is a priority sector for us with our bars, clubs, restaurants and other venues estimated to generate ?600m for the local economy and employing almost 30,000 people throughout the city.

"By promoting Glasgow as a destination we can encourage locals and visitors to use the wide range of top-class facilities, enjoy themselves during their stay and to visit again."

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Fatal fire factory job loss blow

29 July 2011 Last updated at 08:55 GMT Brian Newton of Greenlaw died in the the fire last month at the Wicken Fen site in Duns A councillor has warned that 35 proposed job losses following a fatal factory fire will have a "big impact" on a small Scottish Borders town.

Mid Berwickshire councillor Donald Moffat said it was a major blow for Duns and the surrounding area.

Brian Newton, 37, from Greenlaw, died in the fire at the Wicken Fen site.

The company said it would be at least six months before the factory could be operational, leaving them with no choice but to make staff redundant.

A major emergency operation took place in the Borders town in June when fire broke out at the food factory.

It subsequently emerged Mr Newton had died in the premises.

The circumstances of the fire are still under investigation.

The company has now confirmed it has entered a 30-day consultation on redundancy with its staff.

'Sad day'

Co-founder Paul Weeks said: "We are still waiting for a decision from the insurance company.

"There has been extensive damage from fire and smoke and, at the moment, the premises are completely unusable."

Mr Weeks said that even when the insurance company paid out it would take at least six months to get the premises back to working order.

He said that a lot of work would also have to be done to restore lost orders.

Mr Moffat said the announcement would hit the local economy hard.

"I think it is a sad day for Duns and for Berwickshire in general because not all the workers would come from Duns," he said.

"It is one of these things that is going to affect a lot of families in the area.

"Any firm that loses 30 to 40 jobs in a rural area has quite a big impact."

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Teenager poured bleach on victim

22 July 2011 Last updated at 14:21 GMT A teenager who stabbed a man before pouring bleach over him has been jailed for three years and nine months.

Craig Duffy, 17, from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, admitted assaulting Michael MacDougall, 37, to his severe injury in Oban in February this year.

His accomplice Fraser McKerracher, 19, previously admitted attempting to murder Mr MacDougall.

The High Court in Glasgow heard the how the victim had been left disfigured with more than 20 wounds to his body.

Duffy pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr MacDougall by repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body with knives, pouring bleach onto his body and chasing him from his house all to his severe injury.

Prosecutor Jennifer Bain told the court that the victim was sleeping when the two attackers woke him up by knocking on his door.

Knife attack

She said: "Fraser McKerracher expressed anger at the fact that the complainer had ignored the door, despite the complainer's explanation that he had been asleep.

"Fraser McKerracher attacked the complainer and began punching him on the head and face. The accused then joined in by punching and kicking the complainer on the head and body."

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This is an extremely serious matter and you should not underestimate the position you're in at this time in your life”

End Quote Mark Stewart QC Judge The court was told that the victim managed to retreat into the living room but he was followed by the pair.

McKerracher then brought out a kitchen knife with an eight-inch blade and Duffy also revealed a smaller blade.

Prosecutor Bain added: "The attack continued and despite using his arms to fend off blows, the complainer was stabbed several times on the head and body.

"The complainer then became aware of the smell of bleach and the contents of a yellow bottle of bleach was poured over him by his attackers."

The pair then fled and Mr MacDougall was able to make his way to Oban police office where he was found by officers covered in blood at about 0245 GMT on 27 February.

Jailing Duffy, judge Mark Stewart QC said: "Mr Duffy, at your age to be in the High Court charged with a serious violent crime involving knives is something that needs to be taken seriously.

"This is an extremely serious matter and you should not underestimate the position you're in at this time in your life.

"Given your early pleas I sentence you to three years and nine months."

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Call to end doorstep energy sales

22 July 2011 Last updated at 23:07 GMT Consumer Focus has called on all energy companies to halt doorstep selling Customer watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland has called for an end to doorstep sales by energy companies, amid concerns people are being misled.

The organisation has published a survey indicating nine-out-of-10 people who bought energy products in this way would never do so again.

The call came after Scottish and Southern Energy halted all of its doorstep sales activity in the UK.

Consumer Focus Scotland has called on other energy companies to do the same.

Scottish and Southern has said commission-based doorstep selling was "no longer an effective way" to gain customers.

In May, the energy giant was found guilty at Guildford Crown Court of tricking people into switching from their existing energy firms, between September 2008 and July 2009.

The court found its sales agents had used misleading sales scripts when talking to people on their doorsteps.

A total of 1,878 adults across the UK were questioned by TNS Omnibus for the Consumer Focus survey.

Four per cent of those surveyed said they had a positive view of doorstep selling by energy companies, while 92% said they would never again buy energy-related products on the door.

'Pandora's box'

Consumer Focus Scotland deputy director Trisha McAuley said: "The end of the road has been reached on cold-call energy doorstep sales in Scotland.

"This industry has an appalling track record of mis-selling at people's homes and has had over a decade to change.

"Assurances from energy firms that they will get better simply aren't good enough - unless the problems with doorstep selling are tackled, and firm protections put in place, customers in Scotland will continue to lose out."

Ms McAuley also warned a "Pandora's box of mis-selling" could also be opened with the roll-out of smart meters in homes.

Consumer Focus said all of the UK's "big six" energy companies must voluntarily end doorstep sales immediately for a three-month period to look at alternatives, or energy regulator Ofgem should force them to do so.

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Murder police probe crash images

22 July 2011 Last updated at 13:43 GMT Mrs Cumming's husband was inured in a car crash shortly before she was found dead by police Police investigating the murder of a mother-of-two near Dundee are examining mobile phone images of a crash which left her husband seriously injured.

Jane Cumming, 40, was found dead in her home in Longforgan by police officers on 15 July.

Detectives are waiting to question her 45-year-old husband Neil in connection with the death. He has been unconscious in hospital since the crash on the A90.

The photographs of the scene were taken from a passing vehicle.

Tayside Police have linked the murder with the collision of her husband's car with a lorry on the outskirts of Dundee on Friday morning.

Mrs Cumming's body was found about two hours later.

It is believed that the photographs of the crash scene were taken by a child sitting in the back of a passing car.

Detectives have been treating Mrs Cumming's death as murder since a post-mortem examination.

Tayside Police said they were carrying out "extensive" door-to-door inquiries in the village and were also examining private CCTV in a bid to piece together Mrs Cumming's movements in the hours before her death.

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UK's largest rocket range 'safe'

22 July 2011 Last updated at 09:25 GMT It has been suggested the range could be used for testing drones The future of the UK's largest missile range is secure for at least the next five years, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

The Hebrides Range, set up in the 1950s, has sites on Benbecula, North and South Uist and a radar station on the remote St Kilda archipelago.

The range offers the largest area in the UK for the live-firing of rockets and missiles. About 200 staff run it.

Defence contractor QinetiQ runs the site on the MoD's behalf.

There have been previous concerns expressed by the local council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and by island politicians that the range would be shut down.

The MoD said it would be working with QinetiQ to come up with cost effective ways of upgrading the range and its associated sites.

Both organisations have also said they were willing to work with the council-led Hebrides Range Task Force in looking at other uses for the range.

Weapons tested at the Hebrides Range are being used in operations in Libya

In the past, it has been suggested the area could be used for testing and training in unmanned military and civilian aircraft and drones.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Peter Luff, said weapons systems tested on the range were being used in operations in Libya.

He added: "The Hebrides Range is the largest facility of its kind in the UK and provides a vital testing capability for the UK's air defence weapons systems.

"This further demonstrates the government's commitment to the MoD in Scotland and ensures the UK maintains this important capability within our shores."

Ian Taylor, QinetiQ's head of site at the Hebrides Range, said "This is good news for the range and its users.

"Some of the facilities and equipment at the range are old or difficult to maintain, and we knew that they would be in need of replacement, either now or in the next few years.

"The decision to invest in the range means that QinetiQ and the MoD can now address obsolescence issues as a matter of priority to keep the range operational."

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Looking forward

22 July 2011 Last updated at 08:40 GMT Gillan plays Shirley, a secretary who turns against her vitriolic employer Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan is to make her professional theatre debut in a West End revival of John Osborne's 1964 play Inadmissible Evidence.

Gillan, who plays the Doctor's feisty assistant Amy Pond, will appear with Douglas Hodge in the show, which opens at the Donmar Warehouse in October.

Hodge plays a self-destructive lawyer, while Gillan will play his secretary.

The 23-year-old Scot will be seen later this year playing model Jean Shrimpton in BBC Four film We'll Take Manhattan.

Dame Eileen Atkins played Gillan's role in the original production of Osborne's play at the Royal Court in London.

Jamie Lloyd will direct the Donmar's revival, which - according to the Daily Mail - will make "subtle cuts" to Osborne's text.

British actress Thandie Newton will also be treading the boards this autumn, this time in a revival of the Ariel Dorfman play Death and the Maiden.

The play - opening at the Comedy Theatre in October - will see the 38-year-old play a former political prisoner who kidnaps a man she believes raped and tortured her.

Newton appeared with Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible II and won a Bafta in 2006 for her work in Crash.

Juliet Stevenson appeared in the original 1991 production of the play, while Sigourney Weaver starred in Roman Polanski's 1994 film.

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ScottishPower profits fall 21.4%

22 July 2011 Last updated at 09:40 GMT Generation from renewables increased by 67% mostly due to stronger winds Falling demand for gas and electricity has hit profits at Glasgow-based energy firm ScottishPower.

The company which is part of the Spanish group, Iberdrola, announced half-year profits of ?526m - a drop of 21.4% on the previous year.

ScottishPower said the fall was down to a drop in demand due to a warmer winter as well as higher wholesale prices.

The company, which has over five million gas and electricity customers, recently announced price increases.

From the beginning of August, it is to raise the cost of gas by 19% and the cost of electricity by 10%.

Other energy companies have followed suit.

The ScottishPower division which operates the transmission networks achieved a 13.3% increase in profits to ?365m.

But the company's retailing and generating division reported a 53% fall in profits to ?160m.

Although energy production from coal, hydro and gas fell, the group's renewables sector performed better with a 67% increase in generation.

This was partly down to increased capacity but mostly due to stronger winds.

Overall, parent company Iberdrola increased its earnings by 4.4% to more than ?3.5bn.

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Man rescued after harbour plunge

23 July 2011 Last updated at 11:13 GMT Police are appealing for witnesses after a man who jumped into Arbroath Harbour got into difficulties and had to be rescued.

The 29-year-old was seen jumping into the water at about 1530 BST on Friday.

Two men who were in a nearby boat attempted to pull the man to safety but they needed help from harbour staff and the police.

Tayside Police said the man was taken to Ninewells Hospital where he was under observation.

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Man 'drowned' helping in floods

22 July 2011 Last updated at 10:47 GMT Bill Hamilton was trying to unblock a drain in Smithton The family of a man whose body was found in a drain said he died after trying to help his neighbours during severe flooding on Sunday.

Bill Hamilton, 68, had tried to unblock a culvert when floods hit Smithton, near Inverness.

His stepson Steven Ritchie, 34, said Mr Hamilton fell and hit his head before he was swept away and drowned.

Northern Constabulary said it was investigating his death but were not treating it as suspicious.

Highland Council officials have drawn up an action plan to ease the impact of future flooding in Smithton and nearby Culloden.

The local authority said more than 20 homes in the area were affected over the course of Saturday and Sunday, along with properties and roads near Beauly and Castle Stuart.

Mr Ritchie paid tribute to Mr Hamilton.

He said: "We are absolutely devastated.

"The whole place was getting flooded and Bill, being Bill, tried to help out.

"He went to try to unblock the drains, but it seems he fell and banged his head. He ended up in the burn and drowned."

Police said a neighbour had raised the alarm at about 1745 BST on Sunday.

A spokesman said: "We attended and carried out inquiries and searches of the area.

"Sadly, at about 7pm a member of the public found the body of a man matching the description of the man.

"While there appears to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, we are investigating the death."

Highland Council's action plan followed a meeting between Inverness Provost Jimmy Gray and councillors Roddy Balfour, John Ford, Glynis Sinclair and Robert Wynd.

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