Evening Times

Scottish Ballet Calls On Firms to Step Out and Sponsor a Dancer

SCOTLAND'S national ballet company is asking businesses to take a step in a new direction - by signing a dancer for corporate events. Scottish Ballet has launched its Sponsor A Dancer scheme as part of an attempt to boost its cash flow and improve the bond with audiences.

Free Kids' Swimming to Return

FREE swimming sessions for children are making a splash. Council chiefs in West Dunbartonshire have agreed to bring back the initiative after it proved a huge success last year.

Scotswoman of the Year Olivia Weds Lawyer Robin

SCOTSWOMAN of the Year Olivia Giles was all smiles at the weekend as she married her partner, lawyer Robin Garrett. The couple had a small service in a Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh, attended by 20 close friends, followed by a reception in the New Town.

University Buys Derelict City Site for Student Flats

A DERELICT site in Glasgow's west end looks likely to be sold off for student flats after lying empty for a decade. The land at Gibson Street and Otago Street was originally earmarked for 40 flats by Charing Cross Housing Association.

Bosses Can't Decide Over Airport Link Council Says It Needs More Information

COUNCIL bosses today admitted they can't make up their minds about Glasgow's airport rail link. Councillors in Renfrewshire say they haven't got enough information about the scheme - the biggest public investment in Paisley in years - to take a view.

Voluntary Groups Face Jobs Crisis

SCOTLAND'S voluntary sector is facing a recruitment crisis, says a new report from Strathclyde University. Researchers found that although the sector is growing and employs 5-per cent of all Scots, nearly half of voluntary organisations suffered recruitment difficulties because of popular misconceptions.

Buses Show Pop Videos in Bid to Beat the Vandals Flat Screen Tvs Put in to Distract Rowdy Youths

BUS giant First has a new weapon in the battle against thugs and vandals - pop videos. The videos, which aim to calm down aggressive and rowdy young passengers, are already proving a big success on Glasgow buses.

Gunman Robs Petrol Station

POLICE are hunting an armed robber who stole hundreds of pounds from a busy Glasgow petrol station. The robber threatened staff at the Shell petrol station at Woodlands Road with a weapon thought to be a gun, escaping with a threefigure sum of cash.

Council 'Is Winning Noise War'

NORTH Lanarkshire Council says it is winning the war on noisy neighbours. More than 100 anti-social behaviour orders have been served on offenders so far - the highest number in Scotland. A total of 6445 people have been referred for investigation since the taskforce was set up in 2001.

1in 3 Murders Committed by Men Under Age of 21 Official Figures Show Almost 100 Young Males Guilty of Killings in Past Three Years

ALMOST 100 young men under the age of 21 have committed murder in the west of Scotland in the past three years. Figures show young men were responsible for more than one-third of murders in the Strathclyde Police area.

City Gets Pounds-6.6m to Beat Thugs and Noise

GLASGOW will get pounds-6.6million over the next two years to combat anti-social behaviour. The money will be spent on community wardens, services for victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour, mediation services, specialised teams and helplines to report incidents.

U.S. Firm to Create 500 Scots Jobs

AUS-based research company is to create 500 jobs in Scotland, it was announced today. Inverness Medical Innovations, which specialises in health products including pregnancy tests and blood clot monitors, plans to set up operations in Stirling.

Jacuzzi Double Murderer Caged for 17 Yearsuproar in Court As Jealous Ex Gets Life for Killing Woman and Her New Lover

A JEALOUS husband who murdered his estranged wife and her lover in a hot tub was jailed for 17 years. Judge Lady Smith sparked fury as she told ex-soldier Shaun Alexander she would cut seven years from the punishment part of his life sentence because he pleaded guilty.

Cops Step Up Hunt for Missing Mum

POLICE were today continuing their hunt for a Glasgow mother of two who vanished weeks after giving birth. Lilian Forrester, 35, disappeared last Wednesday after dropping her older son Daniel at school and never returned to her home in Raithburn Road, Castlemilk.

Drug Charges Arrest

POLICE investigating a shooting in Shettleston have arrested a man on drug trafficking charges. The 35-year-old was arrested by a 30-strong squad of officers involved in an investigation targeting organised crime.

Buy Rail Passes Online

RAIL passengers can now buy season tickets online to avoid queuing. First ScotRail has launched Seasons Online where tickets valid for a month or longer can be ordered, paid for and delivered to customers' doors.

Firefighters Back After Airport Strike

FIREFIGHTERS at Glasgow Airport today ended a month-long strike. They decided to end the dispute despite failing to persuade senior managers to abandon plans to ban them from tackling fires or carrying out rescues at the airport's two terminals and surrounding buildings.

Pupil Behind 35 Teacher Attacks

A PRIMARY school child has been branded Scotland's most violent pupil after attacking his teachers 35 times. The boy is still being taught at a primary school in East Renfrewshire, Scotland's top performing education authority, despite the attacks.

Review After Legal Aid Cash Storm

THE way legal aid is handed out is to be reviewed, it was revealed today. The Scottish Executive is working on a consultation paper on overhauling the system.

14-Year-Old Schoolboy Dies After Hitting Head in Street Fall Vain Battle to Save Collapse Tragedy Youth

A14-YEAR-OLD boy has died after suddenly collapsing in a Glasgow street. The teenager struck his head on the pavement when he fell.