Evening Times

T in the Park Is a Sell-Out

SCOTLAND'S biggest music festival is a sell-out. More than 5000 extra tickets for this year 's T in the Park were snapped up by fans today in less than 20 minutes.

Green Flag Pupils Still Need a Pole

PUPILS at a Glasgow school are on the hunt for a flagpole. St Bridget's Primary in Polmadie needs a pole after being awarded international status as a Green Flag school.

Heard the One About a Comedian On the Bus?

THE trains may be idle but Glasgow's buses are running on laughing gas. Commuters being driven to Edinburgh were treated to onboard entertainment yesterday by Croftfoot comic Scott Agnew.

Hospital Parking Charges to Be Reviewed Shock Move As Fees Plan Put On Hold

GLASGOW health bosses are reviewing their controversial plan for parking charges at city hospitals. The shock move comes just weeks before the charges were due to be imposed.

Strike's Over. . . Now Central's Closing Chaos for Travellers As More Industrial Action Is Planned

SCOTS rail commuters were today warned they could face four days of strikes from next week as hundreds of signallers returned to work after a 48-hour stoppage. And just as services in the West of Scotland were getting back to normal travellers faced two more days of disruption by the almost complete closure of Central Station for major engineering works.

Nhs Bosses Delay Car Park Charging Plan for Hospitals Review Postpones Fees Until Summer

THE introduction of controversial car parking charges at Glasgow hospitals has been delayed. City NHS bosses today agreed to look again at plans to charge staff, patients and visitors between GBP1 and GBP12 a day to park at the Western, Yorkhill, the Southern General, the Victoria, Stobhill and Gartnavel.

Two-Month Wait to Open City's New Cancer Unit

A NEW cancer unit in Glasgow, due to have opened last month, has been been delayed for two months to allow equipment to be tested. Patients and staff were due to begin moving into the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre at Gartnavel in the past few weeks.

Gbp1m Pay Slice for Pizza Firm Owner

PIZZA king Mario Gizzi picked up one of the biggest pay packets in Scotland last year when he banked almost GBP1million. The Glasgow-based Di Maggio's pizza and pasta chain owner is said to have received one of the biggest salaries in the country's corporate sector for the third successive year.

Man On Jack Murder Charge

A MAN has appeared in court charged with murdering schoolboy Jack Anderson. Isaac Purcell, 25, made no plea or declaration when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Glimmer of Hope for Clyde Shipyard

A TROUBLED shipyard could have the chance to bid for vital work, First Minister Jack McConnell has said. Earlier this week the Ferguson yard in Port Glasgow announced 99 workers were being made redundant.

Carjack Cops Step Up Hunt

POLICE are today continuing their hunt for an armed gang after five schoolgirls were subjected to a terrifying carjacking gun ordeal. The teenagers, pupils at a fee-paying girls' school in Glasgow's South Side, were sitting in a Mini when the gang, one of whom was carrying a gun, struck on Wednesday afternoon.

Hopes of a Continent Rest On Rival Bidder

GLASGOW now faces a race to the finish with Abuja in Nigeria for the right to host the 2014 Games. But the city will have to overcome an entire continent if it's to triumph.

Games Would Start a Lifetime of Parties

GLASGOW will enjoy a "lifetime of parties" if it wins the right to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, says the man with the job of putting Scotland on the world map. David Williams, chief executive of EventScotland, helped run the 1982 games in Brisbane, Australia - and he is tipping Glasgow tobeat Abuja and set up a new era of confidence in the city.

Saga Radio Axes Two Presenters

SAGA 105.2 FM has begun a clearout of staff in the build up to its relaunch as Smooth Radio later this month. Two daytime presenters at the Dennistounbased station have been told their contracts will not be renewed.

2-Horse Race for 2014 Glory

GLASGOW'S main rival to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games has sensationally pulled out of the race because of spiralling costs. It was going to cost of the Canadian city of Halifax GBP746million to stage the games - nearly three times Glasgow's estimated budget of GBP288m.

Dealer Gets 14 Months

Gay Bar Brush-Off Sparked Attack

A MAN was attacked moments after leaving a gay nightclub by a thug who had wanted to go home with him. Colin McCluckie was waiting for a taxi near to Bennetts in Glasgow city centre when George Alexander approached.

Glasgow Really Is Smiles Better

GLASGOW is the cheeriest place in Scotland - with nearly three- quarters of people telling pollsters they're feeling "happy". The city which ran the Glasgow's Miles Better campaign with its Mr Happy logo in 1980s came 17th in a UK happiness survey by HSBC bank.

M8 Delays After Five-Car Accident

DRIVERS faced hold-ups on the busy M8 following a five-car pile- up. The accident happened around 10.30am yesterday near junction 12 westbound, close to Barlinnie jail, and two lanes of the motorway were blocked.

The Year-Round Party Town Glasgow Now has 52 Weeks of Attractions

FESTIVAL-GOERS from around the world have been flocking to Glasgow and the city can now claim to be a major cultural draw for tourists all year round. A survey for Glasgow City Marketing Bureau revealed eight major events and festivals attracted around 125,000 visitors and generated GBP6million for the economy.