Man who died in Borders car crash named

Andrew McLean died in a car crash in the Borders

By Cara Sulieman

A 22-YEAR-OLD man has died in a crash after colliding with an oncoming car.

Andrew McLean was the driving his Vauxhall Nova south on the A701 in the Borders when he collided with a Peugeot 307 that had been travelling in the other direction.

Today his parents Michelle Denny and John McLean were too upset to talk too much, just saying that they are “united in grief”.

The accident happened just before 1.30pm on Saturday half a mile north of the junction with the A72 in Peebleshire near Mountain Cross.

Lollipop men to use spy cameras to catch dangerous drivers

Robert Purves tries out his new lollipop stick

By Cara Sulieman

CAMERAS hidden inside the sticks used by lollipop men are being used by a Scots council to catch dangerous drivers.

The video pole was introduced by East Lothian Council today in a bid to make their crossing guides’ jobs safer.

The £1,050 poles are automatically activated when held upright, snapping the registration plates of any vehicles that fail to stop.

Robert Purves, 63, works as a crossing guide on Station Road in Haddington and hopes the new kit will help avoid a repeat of near misses he has had in the past.

Teenager charged after youths attack fire crews

By Cara Sulieman

A TEENAGER has been arrested after trying to steal a fire engine as firefighters battled to tackle a blaze.

Staff from Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue were ambushed by a group of youths as they tried to put out flames at West Pilton Children’s Centre in Edinburgh.

The yobs pelted the crew with eggs and jumped inside the truck as crews did their best to get on with their job.

A 15-year-old was arrested and has been charged after allegedly getting into the vehicle and revving the engine in an attempt to drive off.

Cyclist doesn’t know if she was hit or fell

By Cara Sulieman

A CYCLIST has been left with such horrific injuries after a suspected hit and run that she has no idea what happened.

The 27 year-old woman fractured her collar bone and damaged her head after the crash.

Last night she was stable in hospital but police issued an appeal for witnesses in a bid to find out whether she was hit or fell off her bike.

She was cycling along Edinburgh’s Easter Road just before 8.30am on Tuesday morning and is thought to have been struck by a car turning on to Dalmeny Street.

Woman who fought off armed robber receives award

Sheila Jeffrey was presented with an award for her bravery

By Cara Sulieman

A WOMAN who fought of an armed robber who tried to stab her was given an award for bravery today.

Sheila Jeffrey was working in the small post office in Yetholm, near Kelso in the Borders in September 2008 when Patrick Loyden demanded cash.

But 72-year-old Sheila – who has been at the post office since 1984 – struggled with Loyden even though he was brandishing a knife.

Loyden received nine years for assault and robbery in March this year for the attack.

Today she and the other four people who tried to stop the thief were presented with meritorious awards from Lothian and Borders Police for their bravery.

Police step up search for missing Edinburgh woman

Police canvas for witnesses on St Andrews Square

By Cara Sulieman

 

THE worried parents of Edinburgh woman Suzanne Pilley today (Tues) urged people to help them find their daughter – as police forensic teams joined the hunt for the missing bookkeeper.

Anxious Robert and Sylvia Pilley, from Stenhouse, called in police after their daughter never showed for work last Tuesday (May 4) failed to contact any family or friends later.

Detectives say they are now “gravely concerned” for missing Suzanne and called in specialist teams to help.

Jock’s Lodge shooting

Jock's Lodge on London Road

By Cara Sulieman

ANGRY residents are calling for an Edinburgh pub to be shut down after two men walked in and shot a man in the leg at the weekend.

The 24-year-old was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after the attack in Jock’s Lodge pub on London Road on Sunday night.

He was released this (Mon) morning after being treated for his wounds.

Police are looking for two men in connection with the shooting and said that the pub would be closed for “some considerable time”.

This (Mon) morning it was still sealed off as police worked inside the bar area.

Mountain hare found hopping down high street

The hare being released back into the wild

By Cara Sulieman

A MOUNTAIN hare found on a high street in the snow has been released back into the wild after being treated for concussion.

A concerned passer-by called the Scottish SPCA after finding the animal hopping along Lauder High Street in Berwickshire.

Confused and out of his natural habitat, the animal was sporting his white winter camouflage.

Ambulance driver Mairi Stewart, who picked him up, thought he might have been concussed and that might be why he was found on the busy road.

Elderly dog abandoned by road side

 

Doris who was dumped at the road side

By Cara Sulieman

AN ELDERLY dog which narrowly missed being run over by a lorry after being heartlessly dumped at the side of the road refused to budge for rescuers – hoping its owners would come back.

A passing motorist spotted the dog – dubbed Doris – just two miles from the Scottish SPCA rehoming centre in Mellerstain in the Scottish Borders.

She was seen wandering worriedly up and down the side of the road between Gordon and Greenlaw, dodging cars and barking as she waited for her owner to come back.

At first, the loyal pooch refused to get into the Good Samaritan’s car.

But she was eventually coaxed into the warm and taken to the charity’s centre where she was checked over.

Scots are generous souls

By Cara Sulieman

SCOTS are among the best in the UK at donating time and money to charity.

Around half of all Scots surveyed said they like to help.

London ranked a measly 35 per cent but almost three quarters of Northern Irish say they donate regularly.

The poll, carried out by new charity website Leap Anywhere, also found those north of the border splashed out more when they did give a financial donation.

At £20 a pop, they were only beaten by the monied Londoners who handed over £25 each time.