Irvine Welsh gives fans a chance to be in new novel

By Cara Sulieman

HIS previous characters became immortal with the names Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie still famous the world over.

Now Scots author Irvine Welsh is preparing to give fans the chance to join them by naming one of his new characters from his forthcoming prequel to hit novel Trainspotting after them.

The original book, which one critic said “deserves to sell more copies than the Bible”, helped launch the careers of actors Robert Carlyle, Ewan McGregor, Kelly MacDonald and Johnny Lee Miller when the film adaptation came out.

Skagboys is due to hit shelves in April 2012 and goes back into the past of the now-famous heroin addicts in Leith.

Family devastated as they are told their relative’s grave is full

The grave where Margaret Miller wanted to be buried

By Cara Sulieman

A GRIEF stricken family have lost the plot in a row over where to bury a beloved relative – after being told the lair she had bought in advance was already full.

Margaret Miller died last Monday aged 88 but had already pre-arranged to be laid to rest next to her parents, even paying for the right.

But a misunderstanding in the way graves are allocated means there isn’t actually enough space to squeeze a third person into the same spot.

Now her grieving family have to cremate her instead so her ashes can be interred – the only way they can respect her dying wishes.

SIXTEEN FEARED DEAD AS NORTH SEA HELICOPTER CRASHES: Eight missing as tragedy strikes offshore

Fraserburgh lifeboat that rushed to the scene

By SHAUN MILNE, PAUL THORNTON & CARA SULIEMAN

BREAKING NEWS:

FEARS are growing tonight that 16-people have been killed after a Super Puma helicopter crashed into the North Sea just 18-miles north-east off Peterhead.

A major air and sea rescue operation was launched just before 2pm with early reports suggesting eight bodies had been recovered just two hours later.

Hopes were fading that anyone would be rescued alive. Two life-rafts were spotted overturned in the water but conditions for the search were said to be good.

Twelve vessels steamed to the scene along with three Sea King rescue choppers, another helicopter owned by operators Bond, two lifeboats from Fraserburgh and Peterhead all co-ordinated by a Nimrod marine patrol craft high above.