John Lewis in court after putting workers lives in danger

By Christine Lavelle

HIGH street retailer John Lewis faces a massive fine after it was revealed they failed to do proper safety checks while refurbishing premises in Edinburgh which led to 15 construction workers potentially being exposed to asbestos.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard today (Mon) that some of the men were told to carry on touching danger areas with their own hands even after the alarm had been raised because no proper tests were done.

If asbestos is disturbed it can release harmful fibres into the air, which may lead to diseases such as cancer, lung scarring and serious respiratory problems.

The effects of the illness may not become apparent until up to 40 years later.

Schoolboy flashed women before pulling down their leggings

By Cara Sulieman

A SICK schoolboy flashed at two women in their 20s – before trying to pull down one of their leggings.

Mohammad Sohaib, 16, started following the girls as they walked down Gordon Street in Edinburgh before grabbing one of them on the bum and asking her “why do people not like to have sex in this country?”

The teenager then exposed himself to both women before trying to pull down the leggings of the other girl.

Today at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sohaib pled guilty to two charges of assault and one of public indecency on February 15 this year.

Hibs Lose Yogi – View from the fans

THE FANS VIEW –  By Amanda MacMillan

Many Hibs fans today said they were shocked at the departure of former club captain John Hughes so soon into his managerial career with the club.

David Melvin, 55, a cleaner from Edinburgh, said: “I’m devastated. He’s not been given a chance. Everybody has got to take their part in this. I haven’t even thought about who I’d like to see replace him.”

Joiner Davey Cadger, 57, also from Edinburgh, agreed that it was not all his fault. He said: “What a shame. I don’t know why they’re blaming him. They should have given him more cash to get more players.

“It wasn’t his fault. The players should have played together.

“The club has more money than Rangers and Celtic and they could have done more that way. They should’ve given him a bit longer.

“I don’t think it will ruin his reputation. They have no-one really to pick from for manager.

“All the best ones have gone.”

John Hughes term as Hibs manager comes to an end

By Shaun Milne

HIBS manager John Hughes has left the club following a string of poor results for the Edinburgh side which has seen them drift towards the foot of the table.

In a statement issued shortly before 10am, chairman Rod Petrie confirmed that the reign of the former club captain which started in June 2009 had been ended by “mutual consent”.

Mr Petrie said: “John has been a hardworking and dedicated manager of Hibernian.

Two attempted robberies in Leith believed to be linked

By Christine Lavelle

POLICE believe they are searching for the same two men following two separate attempted robberies in Edinburgh on the same night.

The first incident took place at around 12.35am on Saturday, when a 45-year-old man was approached by the pair after leaving a pub in the Leith area of the city.

He left the Port of Leith pub on Constitution Street and made his was towards the junction with Bernard Street, and had just reached Noble’s pub when the attackers came over to him – one from the front and the other from behind.

The man standing behind threatened him with a sharp object – believed to be a knife – and demanded money, but the victim refused and managed to run into the pub.

Fire fighters use platform to reach residents in flat blaze

By Christine Lavelle

EIGHT people were rescued from a burning building after a blaze broke out in the basement area of their block of flats in Edinburgh.

An elderly woman was treated for smoke inhalation, and a 22-year-old female resident was given oxygen therapy by ambulance staff at the scene at Croall Place, in the Leith area of the city.

A man and woman were rescued from the roof by firefighters, who used a hydraulic platform to reach them.

The same platform was used to save a family of four from their living room window, in the multiple rescue operation which took just over an hour.

Police arrest over a dozen suspected gang members during raids

By Christine Lavelle

SCOTLAND’S notorious crack cocaine gangs were targeted during a series of dawn raids by police today.

At least a dozen people and several thousands of pounds worth of drugs and cash were seized in the major operation involving some 100 police officers.

Teenager faces court over alleged stab attack in Leith

By Shaun Milne

A TEENAGER will appear in court today (Fri) charged with stabbing a man in the stomach.

The 19-year-old man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with serious assault and robbery following an incident in the Leith area on Monday, August 30.

His alleged victim, a 36 year old man, had been walking in Great Junction Street around 3pm when the alleged attack happened.

He suffered a stab wound to his abdomen and was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

Police, who appealed for witnesses at the time, confirmed a teenager was due to face a Sheriff later today.

Pot Hole Pizza launched in protest of disruptive Edinburgh trams

By Oliver Farrimond

A DISGRUNTLED restaurant owner has launched a pizza protest against disruptive tram works in Edinburgh.

Staff at Italian eatery La Piazza have begun producing the one-off dish to mark their frustration with the project.

The Pothole Pizza features a large hole in the centre, which owner Tony Pia says is a symbol of the council’s “half-hearted, badly thought out and poorly-finished” trams project.

Mr Pia, 33, said: “I want the council to know that we have survived the trams shambles despite best efforts to make life as difficult as possible.

Scotland’s iconic whisky producers on the move

Glenmorangie are moving into Edinburgh city centre

By Cara Sulieman

ONE OF Scotland’s best-known whisky distilleries is on the move.

The Glenmorangie Company is moving both its headquarters and bottling plant to new sites this month to “reinforce” the company.

Tomorrow sees the employees at the headquarters moving into a new office space in the centre of Edinburgh.

Previously based in Broxburn, West Lothian, the offices on Leith Street are just a stone’s throw away from Princes Street and Waverley station.