Evening Times

Blade Culture Thugs Carry Knives at 11

TWO teenage thugs have given a shock insight into Glasgow's knife culture. The two - one serving life for murder, the other four years for serious knife assault - told a TV film they had carried blades since they were 11 or 12.

Wingets Plan Lifeline for City Homes

HUNDREDS of popular Glasgow homes could have a new lease of life. But consultants today warned that while many of the city's 1000 Winget houses could be saved, the costs would be huge.

Health Shock Nhs Hotline 49 Min Delay Sparks Fury

SCOTLAND'S troubled health hotline NHS 24 was under fire again today as new figures revealed it could take 49 minutes to call a patient back. First launched in 2002, the service then had an eight-minute callback time. In May 2005, it was 49 minutes.

Dad of 3 Killed in Glasgow High-Rise Flats Blaze Four Police Off Icers Taken to Hospital After Failed Rescue Bid

A FATHER of three young children died when fire ripped through a Glasgow multi-storey block. Four police officers were treated in hospital for smoke inhalation after a vain bid to save the man.

Exam Kids Failed Over Phone Use

MORE than 100 Scottish school kids have been failed in vital exams because they took mobile phones into exam halls. Another 41 youngsters will also open their results to find the words 'no award', after being caught plagiarising the work of other pupils or published authors.

Private School Fees to Soar

PARENTS face steep rises in the cost of sending their children to private schools next year. Schools such as Glasgow Academy, Kelvinside Academy and the High School of Glasgow are raising fees by 4-5-per cent for the new term, while Hamilton College is upping its fees by 9-per cent.

Crash Man Fights for Life

A 61-YEAR-OLD man is fighting for his life after his car crashed into a lorry. The man was driving west on the A713, near Patna in Ayrshire, when he lost control of his Ford Focus and collided head-on with an HGV.

Prince Nips Into Distillery

PRINCE CHARLES was today visiting the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland. He is helping fill a barrel at Wick's Pulteney Distillery after opening the town's airport terminal building, refurbished at a cost of pounds-800,000.

Later Trains for Festival

RAIL bosses today launched a new latenight train service for Glasgow commuters heading back from the Edinburgh Festival. The new service will leave Edinburgh at 12.01am and 12.30am and will run to Glasgow Queen Street.

Airport Boost Pounds-149 Flights to Florida

GLASGOW airport is launching pounds-149 direct winter flights to Florida. Budget group Excel Airways is to charter the weekly flights from Scots online company, yourfloridaair. com from October.

Drivers Discuss Pay Row

BUS drivers in Edinburgh were holding mass meetings today to discuss a way forward in their ongoing pay dispute. Nearly 1400 Lothian Buses drivers staged a two-day strike over the weekend, which union chiefs said was 100-per cent supported by members.

Private School Fees Are Set to Soar

PARENTS face steep rises in the cost of sending their kids to private schools as next year's fees are set to soar. Schools such as Glasgow Academy, Kelvinside Academy and the High School of Glasgow are already putting up their fees of between 4-5- per cent for the new term - Hamilton College in Lanarkshire is upping fees by 9-per cent - and more rises could be on the way.

Fame Is Calling for City Kids

POP star Jade McGuire gave some young hopefuls a lesson in fame when she came to Glasgow today. Jade, a member of Pop! , joined top London and Glasgow coaches to teach the tricks of the trade to around 80 south side youngsters.

Bid for Quick - and Safe - Trip Home at Closing Time Clubs and Bus Firm Join Forces in Bid to Beat Late-Night Violence

A CRIME-BUSTING scheme designed to encourage Glasgow revellers to leave the city centre quickly and safely has been launched. Several of Glasgow's top nightclubs have teamed up with a transport firm to help cut alcoholfuelled violence and anti-social behaviour by getting people home as quickly as possible.

Bank Giant's Profits Soar 5-Per Cent to Pounds-6bn

BANKING giant HSBC today unveiled a bumper 5-per cent rise in half-year profits to pounds-6.03billion. It's the first of the UK's top four banks - including Scottish giants HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland - to report interim results this week.

Atkins Bubble Bursts As Stars Get Fed Up with Diet Shock As Slimming Fad That Ruled Them All Hits Rocks

IT WAS the diet fad that took the world by storm. Stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Minnie Driver and Geri Halliwell sang its praises as they shed pound after pound.

Hunt for Two Men After Pounds-50,000 Store Fire

A CITY store has been hit with a pounds-50,000 bill after a massive blaze. Nightshift staff at Next in the city centre had to be evacuated after someone set fire to a pile of bin bags outside the shop's Queen Street entrance.

Clyde Town Bucks Trend in House Prices Greenock Records Staggering 40-Per Cent Increase During Year

GREENOCK has seen house prices rocket by 40-per cent in the past year which has helped prevent a property sales slump across Scotland. But Glasgow saw growth dramatically drop from 27-per cent in June last year to 7.8-per cent with the city now having an average house price of pounds-120,905.

Cops Risk Lives in High Flats Blaze Rescue Bid Father of Three Found Dead in Smoke-Filled Fifth Floor Home

POLICE officers risked their lives to try to save a man after fire broke out at a Glasgow tower block. Four officers were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after they were first on the scene when fire ripped through the flat in Glasgow's south side.

Probe Begins Into Fire Tragedy at Tower Block Father of Three Found Dead in Smoke-Filled Fifth Floor Home

RESCUE services are today probing how a man died after fire ripped through his tower block flat. The 35-year-old father of three, who has not yet been named, was found dead in his fifth-floor flat in a multi-storey in Glasgow's south side.