Evening Times

One-in-Four Too Poor to Stay Warm

ALMOST 25-per cent of Glasgow households can't afford to heat their homes. Shock new figures reveal 64,000 will struggle to keep their houses warm this winter - and numbers are still rising.

Late-Night Patrols for Bus Queues

BUS stops in Glasgow city centre are to be patrolled over the festive season to cut down on booze-fuelled trouble. Two teams with direct radio links to police will monitor queues on Hope Street and Union Street between midnight and 4am on Fridays and Saturdays until February.

Fine for Price Fixing

Daycare Centres to Reopen As Strike Ends

DAYCARE centres across Glasgow are to reopen after more than 200 staff voted to end strike action. Services for 1600 adults with learning and physical disabilities will resume on Tuesday, almost eight weeks after the pay strike began.

20,000 More Immigrants Are Needed Every Year

SCOTLAND needs to attract 20,000 immigrants a year to save the economy from collapse over the next 30 years. The claim comes in a government-backed report today that also warns the alternative is an impoverished future, with a shrinking workforce supporting an ageing population.

Is This Scotland's Cheapest Flat for Sale at Just Gbp1500? Glasgow Property Goes On Market at at Bargain Price

GLASGOW'S cheapest flat has gone on the market - with a price tag of just GBP1500. Estate agents admit the one-bedroom flat in Caldarvan Street, Hamiltonhill, requires "complete upgrading and refurbishment".

6-Hour Wait Pays Off for Radiohead Fans in City

DIEHARD Radiohead fans queued for six hours today to get tickets for the band's massive Glasgow show next summer. Some queued in the cold from 4am to be first in line for tickets, which are also available online.

Stars Add Light Sparkle for Kids

THE MacDonald Brothers and Nieve Jennings made it a Christmas cracker to remember for Yorkhill kids as they switched on the festive lighting. Craig and Brian joined the newly-crowned Miss UK to turn on the 1500-strong fairy lights of a 20ft tree at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Winehouse Is Up for Six Grammys

TROUBLED star Amy Winehouse has been nominated for six Grammy awards. The jazz star's nominations are only outnumbered by hip hop star Kanye West, who received a record eight for the 50th annual music honours.

Fan Aids Band in Shambles

WHEN Pete Doherty was unexpectedly taken ill, and only half his band turned up, one lucky fan was given the chance of a lifetime to play guitar with Babyshambles. Bassist Drew McConnell and drummer Adam Ficek decided the show must go on at last night's NME Awards launch party at London's O2 Arena.

Poor Hit with Heavy Bills in Pre-Payment Scandal

HOUSEHOLDS with pre-pay gas and electricity meters are paying hundreds of pounds a year more than those who pay for their energy by direct debit or online. Energywatch, which represents the interests of consumers in Britain, accused energy firms of exploiting the poorest in society, many of whom are forced to use pre-pay meters (ppm).

Drive to Help Stub Out Cigs Hits Road City's Smokers Get Health Hints to Quit Habit

AROADSHOW aimed at cutting the death toll from smoking in Scotland's cancer hotspots rolled into Glasgow today. Shettleston, in the East End, has the worst rates of smoking levels in the country, with 40-per cent hooked on the habit, according to a 'cancer atlas' published earlier this year.

Cops Launch Xmas Drink-Drive Blitz

STRATHCLYDE Police today launched their month-long festive drink- drive purge with the warning: "Don't Risk It." Until January 4, traffic police will be joining other officers across Scotland to catch motorists under the influence of drink or drugs.

Gbp1.3 Mdrugs Haul: 2 in Court

TWO Polish men have appeared in court in connection with a GBP1.35million cannabis haul. Police recovered the drugs after stopping an articulated lorry around 5.45pm on Tuesday, on the A726 near East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.

Missing Man May Be in City

POLICE fearing for the safety of a missing pensioner believe he may be in Glasgow. Officers in County Durham are appealing for help in tracing Alan Snowball, 78, of, Newton Aycliffe, who has vanished from home.

Hunt for Firebugs at Flats

ELEVEN residents had to be evacuated from their homes after firebugs struck at a block of flats. The fire was started just after midnight on Wednesday in a close at Fulbar Street in Renfrew.

Fears Over Bridge Jump Game

YOUNGSTERS were today warned they are risking their lives playing a bridge swinging game. Teenagers have appeared on YouTube jumping off Scotland's highest railway bridge - a derelict landmark 174ft above the River Avon in Larkhall, Lanarkshire - using harnesses and ropes.

11th-Hour Bid to Avert Strike

CRISIS talks are being held to try to avert strike action by marine support workers on the Clyde. Staff at the Faslane nuclear submarine base and the Great Harbour in Greenock, who are employed by private contractor Serco Denholm, are threatening to take action amid fears for their working terms and conditions.

Snp Spentmore Than Labour Inholyrood Campaign

THE SNP outspent Labour for the first time in May's Holyrood election campaign, new figures have revealed. The Nationalists spent GBP1.383million to Labour's GBP1.103m, the Tories' GBP602,000 and the LibDems' GBP303,000.

Volunteer Scheme has Funding Cut

ASCHEME which enabled young Scots to get off benefits and into volunteer work has had its funding cut by the Scottish Government. Project Scotland was modelled on a US initiative created by former President Bill Clinton and praised by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.