9am Briefing: Angry fans left waiting for hours after Ocean Colour Scene gig cancelled

ANGRY fans were left waiting for hours after a power cut forced the Picture House to cancel the long-awaited Ocean Colour Scene concert last night.

The music venue announced today that the band would play a special gig on Monday, 8 March for fans with tickets for last night's cancelled event.

Scottish Power apologised for the partial power cut, which was caused by a fuse at a substation. The auditorium was plunged into darkness at 7:30pm, and left running on emergency lighting.

University in merger talks

EDINBURGH University and Edinburgh College of Art are in talks about a potential merger amid fears over future funding levels.

The move – which could be put in motion by 2012 – would see facilities, services and accommodation merged and potentially result in large savings.

Professor Ian Howard, the principal of Edinburgh College of Art, revealed the merger talks to staff in an e-mail, which said they were necessary because of the "uncertain" financial climate.

Richey denies bat attack

KENNY Richey has denied hitting his son with a baseball bat during an alleged assault in the US.

Richey, 45, was arrested near a house where his son Sean Richey lived in the town of Baxter, Minnesota, on 6 January .

Papers from Crow Wing District Court show Kenny Richey was charged with second degree assault, making threats and domestic assault.

A court official last night confirmed he had pleaded not guilty to all charges and a hearing would now be held on 8 March.

Rowling named in lawsuit

JK ROWLING has been named in a lawsuit claiming she stole ideas for her Harry Potter books from another British author.

The estate of the late Adrian Jacobs yesterday added Rowling as a defendant in a lawsuit it filed in June against Bloomsbury Publishing for alleged copyright infringement, according to a statement by the estate's representatives, who are based in Australia.

Man in hospital after accident

A MAN was taken to hospital after a road accident in West Lothian last night.

The two-car accident took place on Drumshoreland Road in the Pumpherston area of Livingston just after 8pm.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to release the man from the vehicle. He was taken to St John's Hospital with pelvic injuries.