Tragic schoolboy drowns while swimming in disused quarry

By OLIVER FARRIMOND, ALEXANDER LAWRIE, PAUL THORNTON & SHAUN MILNE

THE GRIEF-STRICKEN family of a schoolboy who drowned while swimming in a disused quarry had the heartbreaking task of formally identifying his body today.

Tragic 15-year-old Daniel Steedman, from Kirkliston, West Lothian, died while playing with friends at the Humbie Quarry near Winchburgh on Thursday evening.

An RAF chopper from HMS Gannet at Prestwick joined specialists teams of police divers, coastguard search teams, police and fire-fighters after the alarm was raised shortly before 6pm.

His lifeless body was recovered by police divers at around 11pm, some five hours after two friends he was with raised the alarm.

The two boys who were with him, thought to have been fellow pupils from Queensferry High School where Daniel attended, were being offered counselling yesterday.

One of the surviving boys is understood to have tried to save Daniel before losing his grip in the remote water pool said to be 100ft deep in places.

Scots graffiti artists invade National Portrait Gallery

By Oliver Farrimond

A GROUP of Scots graffiti artists and street painters have taken over the stately Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

The home of some of Scotland’s most important historical figures has been given a radical makeover with spray-cans, fly posters and projectors.

The drastic transformation is part of a three-week exhibition to go on display during Edinburgh’s festival season, showing a dramatic re-mixing of Scotland’s history alongside timeless portraits of the likes of Robert the Bruce and Bonnie Prince Charlie.

James Holloway, director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, said: “It’s quite extraordinary – the gallery that I’ve been trying to keep clean and tidy has been taken over by a bunch of street artists.

“They’ve made a complete transformation, and what they’re really doing is bringing contemporary styles into the gallery and re-interpreting some of the figures we’ve got on our walls.

Restaurant forced to close over hygiene lapse

By SHAUN MILNE

A FILTHY restaurant which served food already gnawed at by mice was forced to shut down by health chiefs – only to re-open again in time for this year’s tourist season.

Inspectors visiting the Star Sea Restaurant in Edinburgh’s busy Lady Lawson Street described the infestation of rodents as “completely out of control”.

Walls were said to have been “coated in mould” while sinks were leaking and backed up with “foul smelling” water.

Most worryingly of all, food being used to prepare meals had “clearly been gnawed at”, according to officials.

City of Edinburgh Council was so concerned about the potential threat to public health that they issued an emergency prohibition notice to stop it trading.

Search is on for Scotland’s fattest pet

Tinks with PDSA worker Jennifer Keen

By Cara Sulieman

AN animal charity is trying to find Scotland’s fattest pet so that they can help them slim down.

The PDSA are asking owners to enter their chubby companions into the competition to win a place on their Pet Fit Club.

And the porkiest pet will get a free 100 day diet and fitness programme to help them lose those extra pounds.

The charity recently discovered that one in three pooches across the UK were overweight.

Football boss claims he is no “bad man”

By Paul Thornton

LIVINGSTON FC owner Angelo Massone defiantly insists he is still the man to save the West Lothian club from liquidation.

Mr Massone, speaking at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after he was banned from driving over a drinking charge, said the “joke” that he was a “bad man” must end and those with Livingston’s best interests at heart must get behind him.

He said: “Today I had a meeting with the SFL, I would like the people in football to understand that it was refused to me to pay the players.

“From my point of view it was a scandal. The money was on the table to pay all the players, all staff.

“All people should understand that one man fights to save the club is not correct, all must fight to save the club. It is nonsense to kill the club at this moment. It is nonsense to kill a club that has the possibility to survive.”

Tax man taking Hearts to court

By Cara Sulieman

HEARTS FC could become the next big name football club to face the receivers after being taken to court by the tax man.

A petition was lodged at the Court of Session by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) this week in an attempt to recover unpaid tax from Hearts.

The action could force them into administration if the Tynecastle club don’t pay their bill in time and sees then face a 10-point deduction from the Scottish Premier League, a penalty that was metered out to Gretna FC last year.

The Court of Session confirmed that a petition had been lodged but said that no dates had been set.

Bins too tempting for arsonists

By Cara Sulieman

FIRE CHIEFS in Edinburgh fear the city’s bin strike could be putting lives at risk.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service reports a huge increase in rubbish fires since industrial action involving the city’s cleansing crews started.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said that 74 bin fires were put out by the city’s fire-fighters in the past month – up two thirds on last year.

And they are blaming the overflowing bins.

Boy appears on double rape charge

By Paul Thornton

A TEENAGER has appeared in court over the alleged rape of two women in the same town over the space of three days.

The 15-year-old boy – who cannot be named – appeared in private on petition at Haddington Sheriff Court.

He was arrested on Wednesday following sexual assaults in North Berwick on July 19 and July 21 and faces two charges of rape.

The youngster, from Glasgow, made no plea or declaration during a brief appearance and was remanded in custody.

He is expected to appear again next week.

Livi chief in road ban over drinking rap

By Paul Thornton

BELEAGUERED Livingston FC owner Angelo Massone has been banned from driving for a year after he was found slumped drunk over the steering wheel of his car in the early hours of the morning.

Mr Massone, 38, fell asleep in his car on a busy Edinburgh street following a night drinking at a restaurant.

A worried taxi driver called police and an ambulance after seeing the football boss passed out in his 58-reg vehicle.

Cops tried to wake Massone and found a strong smell of alcohol on his breath. When they asked him to step out of the car he was unsteady on his feet.

Massone claimed he could not understand English and refused to give a sample of breath – he was taken to St Leonard’s Police Station where he continued to pretend that he could not understand the requests for a sample.

Funeral of tragic teen

By Cara Sulieman

THE FUNERAL of one of the 17-year-old boys killed in a horror car crash last Friday is to take place this weekend.

James Whitecross was driving a Renault Clio with his friend Daniel Neil, also 17, who was in the passenger seat when they collided head-on into another car in Macmerry, East Lothian.

Friends and family created a memorial at the scene, decking it with flowers, card and football strips.

The service for James will take place in Tranent Parish Church this Saturday at 9.45am before moving on to Tranent Cemetery at 10.30am.