Cycling champ Mark Beaumont reveals Olympic bid is “childhood dream”

By Rory Reynolds

ROUND the world cyclist Mark Beaumont has revealed that his next challenge could be following Olympic champ Chris Hoy’s tyre tracks towards landing a gold medal.

The 27-year-old – who holds the world record for the fastest bike ride across the globe – says he hasn’t ruled out an Olympic future, admitting it was his “childhood dream”.

Already a cycling legend Chris Hoy won three gold medals at Beijing, making him the most successful Olympic Scot ever in a single games.

Now his fellow Scot hopes to emulate his exploits.

When asked if he would like to join a future Olympic team, Mark said: “I’d love to. It’s a childhood dream to compete in something competitive like that.

Face of VisitScotland campaign kidnapped in five-star hotel heist

By Rory Reynolds

TOURIST bosses have put up a cash reward after a life-sized cut-out of a poster boy for their new campaign was stolen.

VisitScotland was launching its new £1.25million marketing drive at the plush Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh when two women kidnapped the 6ft 3ins cut out.

The pensioners were seen to bungle a cut out model of the hotel’s concierge – who is the face of their new European campaign – into a taxi before taking off.

Security staff at the hotel are now scouring CCTV footage to track down the culprits, who were among around 90 people at launch party, held in the Rhubarb restaurant.

And the government agency for tourism has also offered to donate £100 to charity in exchange for the safe return of the hotel hunk.

Boost from Strictly fuels new Edinburgh acting and dance academy

By Rory Reynolds

A NEW stage and dance school to fuel the next generation of Scots stars is to be founded – Strictly for hopefuls who are looking for Fame.

The new MGA Academy of Performing Arts has been given the go ahead to base its new school in Edinburgh after the demand for their teaching rocketed due to reality TV shows.

MGA are expecting to be bombarded by young hopefuls looking to learn their trade from the academy’s glittering staff members, which includes award-winning TV and stage stars, directors, Robbie Williams’ choreographer and a Girls Aloud dancer.

Andrew Gowland, co-principal at MGA, said that they school has been received a huge increase in applicants – especially from males – since reality TV dancing shows took off.

The 28-year-old said: “We’ve been going for five years and when we started we had 90 per cent female 10 per cent male.

Hundreds of vehicles trapped after power cables fall on A9

By Rory Reynolds

RAF rescue helicopters were on high alert last night ready to help hundreds of motorists caught in plunging temperatures after they became stuck in heavy snow for more than 10 hours.

The alert was sparked after traffic on the main A9 road in Perthshire came to a standstill at 7.30am when power lines came down on the busy route blocking it off to around 400 vehicles.

Blizzard conditions also meant cars and lorries became stuck and were left unable to move back down the single road.

Police enlisted volunteers in 4x4s provide food and drinks, many of which had been stuck in their cars for at least 10 hours.

Commuters and families were still trapped on the road in sub-zero conditions as 12 snow ploughs tried to open up a route.

Lorry driver survives being thrown 30 feet after crash

By Rory Reynolds

A DRIVER has survived a freak accident which saw him thrown through the windscreen of his lorry at 50mph.

The man, who is in his late-30s, was driving a HGV when it jack-knifed after skidding on snow.

He was thrown through the windscreen of the lorry, landing 30 feet down an embankment.

According to paramedics the man hit two trees on the way down, before coming to a standstill.

Miraculously he escaped with just a broken leg, and was last night been treated at Stirling Royal Infirmary.