Evening Times

School Row Parents' Fury Placements

PARENTS have accused council officials of "legal intimidation", "misinfor mation" and "callousness" in a row over placements at a flag ship school . Some families at a pub lic meeting over right of entry to Giffnock's St Ninian's High said they felt the only way they had been able to get their children into the Catholic school was to threaten East Renfrew shire Council with legal action .

Job Fears After Firm's Pounds-1.3 M Loss

FEARS were growing today of major job losses after one of Scotland's biggest engineering companies ran up half yearly operating losses of pounds-1.3million. Blantyre-based Babcock Rail, which employs 550 workers in the west of Scotland and another 1000 at offices and depots across Britain, could shortly be put up for sale by owners Babcock International Group. Executives have ordered a review following previous losses.

Parents Vent Anger in School Catchment Row Officials Accused As Storm Rumbles On at Secondary

ANGER boiled over at a public meeting into a plan to exclude hundreds of homes from the catchment area of a top state-run Catholic school. Families from the disputed area expressed their frustration at East Renfrewshire Council's plan to resolve overcrowding at St Ninian's High School, in Giffnock.

We Don't Understand Why the Local Authority Is Treating Us This Way

Parents hit out at the plans: "We phoned East Renfrew shire Council to find out if our new house was in the catchment area and we were told there was no problem getting into St Ninian's, which was why we bought the house. Then we were later told we were not in the catchment area. It is this sort of misinformation which is so distressing to families and we feel we have been very badly treated."

Karen Cops a Comedy Role in Pirates

CHEWIN' the Fat star Karen Dunbar gave a stern warning to shoppers in Glasgow City Centre. The Sergeant of Police said the public would be dealt with severely if they did not come and see her in the Pirates of Penzance at the Theatre Royal.

Stv Is On a 'Collision' Course with Viewers Broadcaster Loses Ratings Battle After Dropping Itv Show

GLASGOW broadcaster STV has been left counting the ratings cost after snubbing another ITV drama. Collision, starring Scot Dougie Henshall, attracted 30.4-per cent of the audience share in other areas of the UK on Monday.

Scots Bbc Bosses' Pay Bill Tops Pounds-1

MTHE senior management of BBC Scotland earn more than pounds-1 million a year, a freedom of information request has revealed. Ken MacQuarrie, the director of BBC Scotland, earns between pounds-190,000 and pounds-220,000. By comparison, the Prime Minister earns pounds-194,000.

Jock Stein Artwork Goes for Pounds-5,800 Newsbrief

A PORTRAIT of football boss Jock Stein by internationally renowned artist Peter Howson has fetched pounds-5,800 at auction. The sketch of the late Celtic and Scotland manager was the centrepiece of a Scottish art sale by McTear 's in Glasgow.

Schoolboy 'Left Brain Damaged' After Having Teeth Removed Mother Sues for Pounds-2.5million Damages

A MOTHER is suing for pounds-2.5million damages after her son suffered a cardiac arrest after having nine teeth pulled out under general anaesthetic. Ryan Gallacher spent almost two months in hospital after undergoing the dental procedure and is claimed to have suffered "significant brain damage".

200,000 Scots Are Out of Work Scotlandtoday

THE number of Scots out of work is fast approaching 200,000, figures out today reveal. The jobless total increased by 4,000 to 194,000 in the last three months - 67,000 higher than at this time last year.

Quizzed On Class Sizes Row Scotlandtoday

EDUCATION Secretary Fiona Hyslop faces a rough ride today when she is quizzed by MSPs about class sizes. The SNP had pledged to reduce class sizes to 18 pupils or fewer in the first three years of primary school but has now announced it wants to bring in a legal limit of 25 pupils .

Drunks Cost Cops Pounds-2m Scotlandtoday

NEW services are needed to stop drunk people being taken to police cells or hospitals to sober up. The claim comes in a Scottish Government study published today which estimates that hospital s deal with up to 21,000 people a year who are drunk and incapable - 404 cases a week - at a cost of pounds- 1.95 million.

Attack Victim 'Serious' Scotlandtoday

A MAN was in a serious condition in hospital after being found injured in Glasgow's East End. T he 38-year-old was discovered in Cranhill around 6.10pm on Monday . It is believed he was attacked by two men in Crowlin Crescent near Gantock Crescent.

Man Denies Murders Scotlandtoday

Pupils Learn About Hope Teachers in Election Area Are Optimistic

VOTERS in the north east of Glasgow have only one day left to make up their minds who to choose as their next MP. Much has been made of the social problems that are all too evident in the areas that make up the constituency.

Big Guns Are Out for Final Push at Poll

THE campaign to win the Glasgow North East by-election enters its fi nal day, with candidates hoping to win over undecided voters. Yesterday, the big guns were wheeled out by all parties to add weight to their candidates' cause.

Poll 4 Join in Podcast

CANDIDATES from the four main parties have been quizzed on their views by Herald & Times Group Political Editor Brian Currie in a podcast ahead of Thursday's crucial poll. Four of the main candidates, Conservative Ruth Davidson, David Kerr of the SNP, Labour candidate Willie Bain and Eileen Baxendale of the Liberal Democrats took part in the hustings at the Herald & Times studio.

Military Funeral for 'Attack ' Hero Scotlandtoday

A HERO soldier who was killed outside his mother's home will be laid to rest today. Paul McGee died in hospital following an incident in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, last month.

Iraq Hero Guardsman Is Laid to Rest Full Military Honours at Soldier's Funeral

A HERO of the Iraq war who was attacked outside his mother's home in Renfrewshire has been laid to rest with full military honours. Paul McGee, 28, died following an incident in the street last month.

Nation Falls Silent to Remember War Dead City Pays Tribute As Queen Attends Abbey Ceremony

GLASGOW and the nation fell silent today as Armistice Day and the passing of the First World War generation was marked at a moving memorial service. The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, senior politicians and the heads of the Armed Forces were at the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London.