Special measures are being taken to reduce the number of abscondees from both Castle Huntly and Noranside open prisons in Tayside, the chairman of the Noranside visiting committee said yesterday.

AN ESCAPEE from Castle Huntly open prison tried to pass himself off to police as a walker on a day out, Perth Sheriff Court heard.

STAFF AND service users at a Fife support group have been suffering “abuse” and “bullying.”

A £50 MILLION extension to Dundee’s Overgate centre, which will provide hundreds of new jobs, was given the go-ahead by city councillors last night.

PERTH RACECOURSE is playing an important role in helping horse racing generate approximately £213 million worth of economic activity within Scotland, a report released yesterday has revealed, writes Eric Nicolson.

THE PEOPLE of Perth and Kinross have been urged to press for A9 dualling as the next major roadworks project in Scotland.

FIRST MINISTER Jack McConnell hinted in Dundee yesterday that the Scottish Executive might be sympathetic to allowing the city’s airport to be taken over by the state-owned Highlands and Islands Airport Authority (HIAL).

NHS FIFE has launched a pilot scheme aimed at reducing absenteeism among its staff.

FRUSTRATION OVER a lack of action by the Scottish Executive over a plea to change the law relating to compensation claims from sufferers of the asbestos- related cancer mesothelioma could lead to a string of single-issue candidates being put forward at next year’s Holyrood elections to highlight the issue, writes Ian Findlay, industrial reporter.

A FORMER Angus minister will tonight be installed as the new chaplain to the UK’s oil and gas industry.

DUNDEE IS setting a science standard for the rest of Scotland to follow, Jack McConnell said on a visit to the city yesterday.

A 43-YEAR-OLD Dundee man made a brief appearance in private at the sheriff court yesterday, accused of abducting a woman at Sainsbury’s car park, Baldovie road, on February 3.

A DUNDEE company which imports printer cartridges for computers plans to vigorously defend itself in an action in the English High Court raised against it by one of the world’s leading manufacturers of printers, computers and technology products.

FOUR 17-YEAR-OLD boys have been reported to the procurator fiscal after an incident which took place at Carnoustie High School earlier this month.

A CHARITY is seeking volunteers to help ease the loneliness of many elderly people in Tayside and Fife.