A PIONEERING ‘pretzel’ shaped surgical instrument has been used to carry out ‘keyhole’ surgery on an big cat at Edinburgh Zoo. Leading vet Romain Pizzi used ground breaking minimal invasive techniques to carry out a liver and kidney biopsy and assess whether the Asian Golden Cat, named Ipoh, has polycystic disease. The instrument PretzelFlex – because [...]
A TERRIER has been given an early Christmas present of life after becoming the first dog in Scotland to be fitted with a human pacemaker. The Dandie Dinmont terrier, named Angus, was facing imminent death from a heart condition at the age of two. But after specialist vets fitted an adapted human pacemaker, Angus can [...]
A NAZI-battling Polish bear is set to be immortalised with a new statue – in Scotland. The 500lb animal helped fight against Hitler’s forces during the Second World War, but spent his last days in Edinburgh Zoo. Now campaigners plan to put up a £200,000 bronze memorial to “Private Wojtek”. After previous attempts to place a [...]
KILLER Theresa Riggi is being moved from Cornton Vale to a top psychiatric hospital following a string of vicious attacks on her. The 47-year-old is being pulled out of the notoriously tough jail after she was slashed in the face by an inmate last month. Staff at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital have been briefed on [...]
A MAN who received a bravery award for a heroic fire rescue was jailed today after admitting causing death by dangerous driving. Russell William Dickson killed Graham Rowe in a ‘tragic’ car smash on 15 August this year, a court heard. He was jailed for a year for speeding out of a give way junction [...]
A SCOTS teenager who became a world-wide hit with hit with a World-Cup themed Lego animation has released his latest creation on YouTube. Graham Love, 18, painstakingly recreated key on-pitch moments using nothing more than Lego and blue tack. This time the Aberdonian has chosen to celebrate the festive season. Graham said: “I’ve tried to [...]
SHOPPERS in Edinburgh are being urged to be vigilant against purse snatchers this festive period as part of a new country-wide safety campaign. Under the Watch Your Purse campaign, shoppers are being warned to watch out for would-be thieves and to take precautions to keep their purses, wallets and personal belongings safe from pickpockets over [...]
FIREFIGHTERS battled for over an hour to free a man trapped under an eight-tonne steamroller at the weekend. Ambulance staff could not release the victim and called firefighters to the scene of the accident in Tranent, East Lothian, on Sunday afternoon. The man is believed to have been trapped under the steam roller by his [...]
A FORMER education official who downloaded thousands of images of child porn was today banned from the classroom – at his own request. Joseph McCabe admitted collecting the sickening hoard of 13,358 pictures while living at his family home in Perth. The 53-year-old was also found guilty of downloading 33 indecent videos of children between March 2008 and April [...]
A MAN has been taken to hospital following a fire at his home inEdinburgh. The 61-year-old suffered from smoke inhalation in the blaze at Restalrig Drive. Fire crews were alerted just after midnight by a neighbour who smelled smoke. A spokesperson for the fire service said the fire was believed to have been started by [...]
A ROOFER turned poet who writes poetry on the roofs of buildings he has worked on has landed a lucrative publishing deal. William Letford, 34, Stirling, who works as a full-time roofer, has earned a name for himself in the poetry world for writing on the roofs of buildings. But the 34-year-old’s bizarre creativity has [...]
ELEVEN distinguished churches are to have urgent and essential repairs carried out thanks to a funding package announced today by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland. More than £1.5million of funding will ensure that the buildings are wind and watertight providing a venue for worship and a hub for community activity. Each church is [...]
POLLUTION and unhealthy diets are causing a surge of panic disorders across Scotland, according to experts. Health experts are blaming additives in food and drink and carbon dioxide levels for “anxiety” symptoms appearing in previously healthy people. An author, who suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks for nearly 30 years, has revealed how her [...]
THE TRAIN “vigilante” who made worldwide headlines last week for throwing a suspected fare-dodger off a train has revealed he will stay silent about the controversial incident. Alan Pollock, 35, nick-named the “Big Man”, works for an investment management company in Edinburgh and has said he has been advised to remain tight-lipped by his [...]
COMMUTER chaos caused by high winds on a major new bridge will come to an end as plans to build a wind shield have been announced. The wind-shield, designed for the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) project, will allow it to remain open during high-winds such as the ones caused by “Hurricane Bawbag” two weeks ago. If plans go [...]
A THREE thousand pound dress worn by superstar Susan Boyle has failed to sell in a celebrity charity auction. The Britain’s Got Talent star from Blackburn,West Lothian, donated the dress which she wore during one of her performances to the Prince’s Trust in Madrid 2010. The embellished silver dress, described as a “really special piece of music [...]
A SEX SWAP traffic warden is taking legal action against Scots police, claiming she was bullied to the point where she was put on suicide watch. Jan Irvine alleges that after the operation to make her a woman, female colleagues made cruel jokes about her voice and said they would “run out screaming” of the [...]
SCOTS singing sensation SuBo has said she has “conquered her demons” after struggling with her sudden rise to fame. TheBritain’s got Talent star told a national newspaper that she now felt “confident” and was enjoying her celebrity lifestyle. The 50-year-old, who has previously spent time in the Priory clinic, said: “I feel I now belong. [...]
A FOOTBALL fan has been fined and banned from attending matches after making racist remarks at a game. Gerard Francis Brodrick, 23, of Glasgow was fined £2300 and given a two-year Football Banning Order atAberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday. Celtic-fan Brodrick had made racist remarks at a game between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie Stadium in [...]