Floods hit Scotland

By Cara Sulieman and Rory Reynolds

TORRENTIAL rain and flooding across parts of Scotland were feared to have claimed the life of at least one man today (thurs) – with forecasters warning of more bad weather to come over the weekend.

At least 20 rivers were last night subject to flood watches as heavy rainfall led to considerable train disruption and several key roads – including the A1 between Scotland and England – being closed to traffic.

In West Lothian police and RAF search and rescue teams spent several hours searching the swollen River Almond near Livingston after reports of a man falling into the fast-flowing waters.

A distraught member of the public called Lothian and Borders Police at 9am to say that they had seen the man fall into the river from a footbridge in the Kirkton area of the town.

Council ditches desks in home-working eco drive

By Alexander Lawrie

A SCOTS council is looking for hundreds of staff to start working from home or on the move – so it can axe 1000 desks.

The eco plan is from Edinburgh City Council which wants to improve its green credentials and help drive down rising costs.

The council wants to identify around 1,300 members of staff who they believe can work without the need for a desk.

And in the longer term, authority chiefs believe a third of their workforce – almost 6,500 staff – will be able to do their jobs without sitting at a permanent berth.

Second fire to hit Dalry Road in a week

Tragic firefighter Ewan Williamson

By Cara Sulieman

A FIRE has ripped through a British Heart Foundation shop in the capital, just 500 yards from the Balmoral Bar where firefighter Ewan Williamson lost his life.

Exactly a week after his tragic death, firefighters were called out to 56 Dalry Road where smoke was coming out of the roof of the charity’s shop.

Three firefighters were injured whilst trying to put out the inferno and were taken to hospital.

But luckily they were later released from the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after being treated for a variety of injuries including smoke inhalation and bumps and bruises.

Double celebration for twin graduates

happy twins Agnieszka (left) and Katarzyna (right) Cynert

By Cara Sulieman

IT WAS a double celebration yesterday when identical twins graduated from the same course as each other.

Agnieszka and Katarzyna Cynert, both 23, collected their degrees in Energy and Environmental Engineering from Edinburgh Napier University.

And the bright pair achieved impressive grades, with a 2:1 for Agnieszka and a 1st for Katarzyna.

It was when on holiday in the summer of 2005 that the girls decided they loved Edinburgh so much that they wanted to stay.

Heavy rain threatens T in the Park

By Cara Sulieman and Michael MacLeod

REVELLERS heading for this year’s T in the Park were put on flood alert last night after heavy rainfall swamped the area.

The Met Office said it expects “torrential downpours” right up until the weekend sparking fears of a washout.

Dozens of flood emergencies were reported yesterday with Tayside Fire and Rescue Service receiving its first calls from worried residents at about 9.30am before pumping out water from various locations.

Most of the calls came from the Kinross and Milnathort areas – both within a few miles of the festival site in Balado.