Capital news in brief: Health service appeals for a helping hand

A DRIVE to recruit more volunteers to work in hospitals is to be launched.

NHS Lothian has produced the More People, More Volunteering document, which sets out its aims to recruit additional people to give up their time helping out health workers and patients.

Bosses said volunteering would play a more crucial role in future as resources tighten and the demands on healthcare grow.

The organisation said volunteers already made a "major contribution" to its running.

Branson backs green visions

A WORLDWIDE green initiative backed by Sir Richard Branson is appealing to entrepreneurs to submit a carbon-cutting idea in a bid to win 440,000.

Championed in the UK by the People's Postcode Lottery, the competition is urging people to submit a creative, eco-friendly idea.

THE deadline for entries for a competition to find the UK's sport student and teacher of the year has been extended.

The Sky Sports Living for Sport Student and Teacher of the Year 2011 awards are open to all secondary students and teachers who have participated in a Sky Sports Living for Sport project.

Pubs hope cider festival will sparkle

SIX Lothian Wetherspoon pubs are set to stage cider festivals.

The pubs will each be serving up to 12 different ciders during the festival, which will run from Thursday to next Sunday.

The participating pubs are The Standing Order and The Alexander Graham Bell, both in George Street, The Playfair in the Omni Centre, The Foot of the Walk in Constitution Street, The Blacksmith's Forge in Dalkeith and The James Young in Bathgate.

Department store suffers slump

THE Edinburgh branch of department store chain John Lewis has suffered a slump in sales.

The St James Centre store suffered a 3.6 per cent decline in sales in the week to July 9 when compared to the same week last year.

Michael's signs point to a bright future

A STUDENT from Telford College has won a design competition to create new signage for a Granton park.

Michael Kerr, an HND visual communications student originally from Galashiels, created the designs for the new park within the National Grid's Forthquarter development.

The signs direct people towards the new park, behind Telford College and the Morrisons supermarket.

Project manager Jim Moore said: "Michael's designs really stood out."