Evening Times

7 in 10 Scots Show Home Goodies to Thieves

ALMOST seven in 10 people in Scotland leave expensive items on show through the windows of their homes, a survey says. Flat screen televisions, computers, antiques and even jewellery are among the items visible to anyone on the street.

Monty Wants Complete Ban On Cigarettes

GOLFER Colin Montgomerie has called for a complete ban on cigarettes. The star made the plea as he visited Glasgow - his late mum's home city - to officially launch a GBP5.2million bid for a cancer centre in her honour.

No Stopping Sydney Open Charity Shop

SINGING legend Sydney Devine, who recently had major heart surgery, has opened a new charity shop in Cambuslang. The 67-year-old thrilled shoppers who turned up for the launch of the new Marie Curie Cancer Care store in Main Street.

Playstation Boost As Racer Mark Joins Tt Elite

YOUNG race fans are getting revved up to take on a Scottish bike ace who will feature in a new PlayStation game. Mark Buckley, of Alexandria, near Dumbarton, is the new speed demon on the latest edition of Jester Interactive's TT Superbike game for armchair racers.

Christmas Gifts Are Pure Humbug

IT'S jingle hell for Britons who this year will receive GBP41 worth of Christmas gifts they will never use. And for many the spirit of Christmas disappears when they open a present - one in seven has fallen out with a friend or relative who has given them a thoughtless gift.

Festive Market for City Museum

GLASGOW'S Museum of Transport is to be transformed into a Christmas market. Stalls will be set up in the museum's recreation of the 1930s Kelvin Street, selling hand-made chocolates, cards and other goods.

Hunt for Rapist After Girl, 15, Attacked As She Jogged in Village

POLICE were today hunting a sex fiend who raped a teenage girl out jogging in an isolated Lanarkshire village. The 15-year-old was jogging along Main Street, Banton, near Kilsyth, when she was pulled into a field and raped.

Glasgow Among Uk's Most Congested

GLASGOW is among the worst in the UK for congestion - with journeys taking 31per cent longer at rush hour. The nightmare jams are attacking the environment and costing drivers a fortune in extra fuel.

Man Dies As Ambulance Gets Stuck in Mud

A FATHER has died after the ambulance he was in got stuck in mud on the way to hospital. Andrew Andrews, 61, was crushed yesterday by a JCB digger at a garden centre in Lanarkshire.

Man, 61, Is Crushed to Death by Jcb

A PROBE was launched today after a dad-of-two died in a horror accident. Andrew Andrews, 61, was crushed by a JCB digger at Sandyholm Garden Centre near Lanark.

Kids in Danger. . .From Parents 70000 Referred to Children's Panel 'at Risk'

DRUGS and alcohol are behind the huge surge in the number of Glasgow kids referred to the Children's Hearing system. Figures show one in 10 city youngsters have found themselves in front of the panel.

Family's Tears As Tragic Vicky Finally Laid to Rest Hundreds of Mourners Pack Church for Funeral

HUNDREDS of mourners gathered today for the funeral of Scots schoolgirl Vicky Hamilton - 16 years after she disappeared. Redding Parish Church, near Falkirk, was packed as mourners said a final farewell to the 15-yearold, whose body was found buried in a garden nearly three weeks ago.

Naked Rambler Is Jailed for 3months

NAKED Rambler Stephen Gough has been jailed for three months for contempt of court. Sentencing him in Edinburgh today, Sheriff Katherine Mackie was told by the 48 year old's lawyer, John Good, that his client was in the cells but was refusing to dress for his appearance.

800 Council Jobs Face Axe

HUNDREDS of council jobs in Scotland's capital could be axed in a GBP30million efficiency drive. The Edinburgh Pathfinder project is an effort to make services more efficient by sharing them between several authorities.

Manwalks Free Over Shooting

A MAN accused of gunning down a security boss walked free after a judge ruled identification evidence was insufficient for a jury to convict him. Judge Ian Peebles QC found 43-year-old Joseph Lindsay not guilty of trying to kill Castlemilk man George Walker, 42, on August 28, 2005.

Xmas Cracker for Heather

HEATHER RHODES will be able to dress to impress for the whole of 2008 after becoming the latest winner in the the Evening Times Silverburn Christmas Crackers competition. Heather, from Hamilton, has won GBP1500 worth of vouchers to spend in the stylish Hobbs store.

St Andrew's Day Is Marked

SCOTLAND'S first St Andrew's Day under a Nationalist administration will today be marked by a blitz of ministerial activity designed to raise its profile. The Lion Rampant flag will fly alongside the Saltire above the Government's Edinburgh headquarters to mark the day.

Fury As Fund for New Flights Axed

A SCHEME which has helped secure new air routes for Glasgow Airport is to be abandoned. The Route Development Fund offers subsidies to airlines to set up new services - giving thousands of passengers from west Scotland direct access to cities such as New York, Toronto and Dubai.

Glasgow Factory Faces Battle to Prevent Closure

A GLASGOW factory which employs dozens of disabled people is facing a battle for survival after the Government endorsed closure plans. Remploy's plant in Hillington Industrial Estate is the only Scots plant earmarked for closure after two other Scottish plants in Wishaw and Aberdeen were saved. But bosses from the Hillington factory, which employs 42 people, 37 of whom are disabled, are still trying to put together an eleventh hour rescue plan to save plant.

New Route to a Business Degree

A NEW route to a business degree has been created through a further education partnership. Motherwell College has joined Napier University and IBP Academy in Largs to develop a BA Business and Enterprise.