TORY LEADER David Cameron yesterday warned the party to be ready for a snap election if Gordon Brown takes over as Prime Minister.

COUNCILLORS IN Fife have been preparing their battle plan as the bid to scrap tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges begins in earnest.

TWO PUPILS from Grove Academy, Broughty Ferry last night emerged victorious from the grand final of the Courier/Chartered Institute Of Bankers In Scotland Schools Junior Debating Competition.

SCOTTISH TORY leader Annabel Goldie was given the green light yesterday to campaign to slash income tax in the run-up to the Holyrood elections next May.

TWO FIFE hauliers have pledged to support The Courier campaign to scrap unfair bridge tolls.

THE COURIER’S campaign to abolish tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges yesterday won influential backing from some of Perth’s top councillors, and Angus Council’s administration leader expressed hope that his authority would also join the campaign.

A FIFE Tory councillor has attacked his own party’s bridge toll policy on the eve of the Scottish conference.

THE MAN in charge of the Overgate retail centre in Dundee last night said that the retention of tolls on the Tay Road Bridge was threatening to diminish some of the “great work” done in the city in recent years.

A MONTROSE pensioner has been left shocked and distressed after he received electricity bills this week demanding he pay ScottishPower over £14,000.

TORY LEADER David Cameron braved the snow in Perth yesterday before canvassing the opinions of the young voters of the future.

DRUG TRAFFICKING from abroad has reached an all-time high in Tayside, police said yesterday as shocking figures revealed a massive rise in drug crime across the region.

AT LEAST two of four Dundee youths locked up last year for a serious assault are to have their sentences cut.

LORD ADVOCATE Colin Boyd has warned there is a danger a public inquiry into the Shirley McKie fingerprint case will lead to Crown prosecution decisions being influenced by outside pressure.

THE PRINCESS Royal visited Dundee University yesterday to perform the official opening of the £6 million Queen Mother Building, the new home of the division of applied computing.

A DUNDEE taxi driver has voiced his anger at being hit with a parking ticket outside his home—despite the fact he was recuperating from severe injuries and unable to drive at the time.