Schoolgirl’s tears over drowned Martin Moriarty, 13

By PAUL THORNTON

A SCOTS schoolgirl fought back tears today as she laid flowers on the bank of the river at the spot where she had watched her best friend drown less than 24-hours earlier.

Sindy Collins, 14, told how she could do nothing to stop Martin Moriarty, 13, being pulled under the water as they played in the River Tweed on Sunday evening after he was overcome by sudden strong currents.

HEARTBREAK: Sindy Collins

The glorious weekend sun had attracted the youngsters into the water with friends in the Borders town of Kelso before tragedy struck, leaving the whole town in mourning.

River

Heartbroken Sindy – best friends with Martin at Kelso High School – told how she had attempted to reach her pal but was unable to pull him from danger as he was weighted down by his denim jeans and unable to fight the pull of the river.

She said: “Martin had dinner at my house and we were going swimming in the ‘Cobby’ because the water is shallow.

“But there was a big drop in the floor which we weren’t expecting. We fell into it. I managed to get out, but Martin couldn’t.

“I reached out a hand, but he couldn’t grab it and he went under.”

Royal Highland Show tickets go on sale

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

TICKETS for this year’s Royal Highland Show went on sale yesterday – with a little help from children’s favourite Dennis the Menace.

The popular tourist attraction regularly draws crowds of up to 160,000 people and organisers have promised this year’s event will be the biggest show ever.

The four day event showcases the very best of Scottish entertainment, outdoor living countryside and, of course, farmyard livestock.

And this year will see a special Homecoming appearance from the Brit Award-winning Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

Nearly 5,000 animals, including horses, sheep and cattle, will be on show, and Border Common Ridings will be present to demonstrate the traditional skills of farriery, stick-making and basket weaving.

Primark pay council for fresh air

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

A CLOTHING store has agreed to pay council chiefs a massive £290,000 – for a slice of fresh air.

High Street giant Primark are taking over the former Marks and Spencer store on Princes Street, Edinburgh, which has a connecting bridge at the rear of the building.

But despite owning the bridge, it cuts through air space owned by the city’s local authority – meaning they are forced to shell out the small fortune.

Edinburgh Council bosses are claiming it is a good deal for taxpayers as they are allowed to collect ‘air rights’ payments if any buildings overhang any of its property.

Heart attack victim’s lasting legacy

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

A YOUNG Scot who died from an undiagnosed heart complaint has left a lasting legacy – after a trust fund was set up in her memory which will help train the country’s future heart specialists.

Edinburgh woman Tracey Culbertson was just 36 when she tragically passed away in her sleep last September.

She suffered a massive heart attack after living for years with the undiagnosed condition called coronary atherosclerosis.

A subsequent post-mortem revealed Tracey had suffered several small heart attacks over the years, and her heart had so deteriorated she would have needed a heart transplant.

Now her family, who knew nothing about Tracey’s condition, has started a campaign to raise awareness and money in the hope of preventing similar tragedies.

Horror smashes cause rush hour traffic chaos

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

PARTS of Scotland’s commuter belt suffered gridlock yesterday after two horror smashes.

Both carriageways of the M74 were closed for around NINE hours after a collision involving a Peugeot car and an articulated lorry just north of Lockerbie.

Police said Monday morning traffic in the area was reported to “extremely heavy” and in some sections to be gridlocked.

The woman driver had to be cut free from her car and was rushed to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary following the crash at around 1am on Monday.

She was said to be in a “critical” condition.

The driver of the HGV was also taken to the hospital after his truck toppled over and straddled both carriageways.

Meanwhile, a man had to be cut free from his car by firefighters after a two-car crash near to Hermiston Gait, Edinburgh.

Eyewitnesses said the early morning traffic was backed up all the way to Livingston – around six miles away.

The driver suffered serious neck injuries and was transferred to Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary for treatment.

No further details were available.

Tributes paid to “loyal and loveable family man”

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

THE devastated partner of a man who died after trouble exploded outside their Fife home yesterday called him the “love of my life”.

Sean Stark’s heartbroken family also paid tribute the heroic dad of two describing him as a “loyal and loveable family man”.

The 25-year-old, from Lochgelly, was found dying from several stab wounds at around 2am on Sunday morning in the town’s Main Street.

Mr Stark is said to have gone to the aid of a friend after trouble flared in the street but ended up fatally injured himself.

He was taken to Dunfermline’s Queen Margaret Hospital but died from his injuries soon after.

Fife Police have confirmed a 21 year-old man from Ballingry, Fife has since been arrested in connection with the murder.

He will appear from custody tomorrow (Tues) at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.