THE SCOTTISH Government’s flagship plan to give free school meals to all pupils in the first three years of primary education was under fire last night amid fears that councils will not be able to afford it.

AN INVESTIGATION is under way to find out why cracks have appeared in nine heavy-duty nuts on the Forth Road Bridge.

MSPs HAVE overwhelmingly thrown out controversial plans to outlaw under 21s from buying alcohol in off-licences, writes Steve Bargeton, political editor.

A HELICOPTER crash in Perthshire that led to the death of two men may have been prevented, a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) has found.

TAYSIDE HEALTH bosses expect a national report into the leaving behind of personal medical records at the former Strathmartine Hospital on the outskirts of Dundee to be made public soon.

THE LAST family-run dairy business in Dundee is to end its doorstep deliveries at the end of this month—after four generations of the service—due to rising costs of fuel and wages.

A TRADITIONAL taste from the Carse of Gowrie is set to be served up as members of a local society do their best to preserve the area’s great fruit-growing history.

PRINCIPAL HEALTH and safety inspector John Madden told the jury in the trial of Mitie Engineering Services (Edinburgh) Ltd and three of its senior personnel at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday that it was very important that an electrical supervisor was competent in safe working practices, and management should be aware of whether such a supervisor was competent or not.

SPECTATORS KEEN to catch a glimpse of some the world’s best golfers and A-list celebrities yesterday turned out for the opening day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

MORE DIRECT council help may have to be given to housebuilders if a looming affordable housing shortage is to be averted in Perth and Kinross, a top councillor has said.

A TENANT dispute which turned nasty saw a young man appear at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday to explain his part in a scuffle that broke out on a Perthshire farm.

PLANS TO site Aberfeldy’s leisure centre within the town’s public hall came in for fierce criticism from community members yesterday.

AN EVENING promoting peace, traditional Indian song, instrumental music and poetry took place last night in Dundee thanks to The Bharatiya Ashram.

DUNDEE’S PLANNING and transport convener Fraser Macpherson last night refused to rule out the possibility that west end residents might have to pay to park their cars outside their homes.

THE MONTROSE area partnership has been re-named Montrose Together in an effort to get rid of the confusion that has surrounded the purpose of the organisation.

MEASURES TO protect householders in Perth and Kinross from doorstep selling are in the pipeline.

FORMER FIFE chief constable Peter Wilson has been made an honorary professor at Dundee University.

THE CAMPAIGN fought by women to gain the right to vote is to be remembered in a special Stirlingshire educational course, it was announced yesterday.

MONTROSE ART lovers are to be given the opportunity to enjoy the work of local artists in a new venture by the town’s museum.

PUPILS AT Auchtertool Primary School raised over £180 yesterday by hosting a coffee morning in aid of charity.

A 1947 FIRST edition John Buchan and first or early editions by Agatha Christie, Compton MacKenzie and William Soutar are among the literary gems submitted for the Rotary Club of Perth Kinnoull book fair, which takes place tomorrow.

DUNDEE YOUNGSTERS who walked across the Tay Road Bridge to raise money for a children’s diabetes fund handed over a cheque for £330 yesterday.