9am Briefing: Anti-RBS protests cost £500,000 to police

PROTESTS against the Royal Bank of Scotland cost more than £500,000 to police, it has been revealed.

Policing the five-day "climate camp" at Gogarburn reportedly cost more than five times what was expected. Councillor Iain Whyte, convener of Lothian and Borders Police Board, said he wanted some of the costs paid back by protesters.

Restaurateur dies in crash

A POPULAR local restaurateur died in a motorcycle accident in Argyll at the weekend.

Sicilian-born Roberto Alongi, 44, was riding a BMW motorcycle when it collided with a Seat Toledo on the A83 Inverarary to Lochgilphead Road on Saturday afternoon. His 36-year-old passenger was seriously injured in the crash – which took place at around 4.20pm – and was taken to hospital in Glasgow, where her condition has been described as "serious". See today's Evening News for the full story.

Pedestrian hit by two cars

A POLICE appeal has been launched after a 40-year-old pedestrian was hit by two cars on Seafield Road on Saturday.

The casualty was struck by an eastbound Fiat Doblo and a Ford Focus at around 11.30am, suffering serious head injuries.

Officers want motorists who were on the road at the time of the collision to come forward and assist with their enquiries.

A police spokesman said: "We are still trying to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident and would be eager to speak to anyone in the area who may have witnessed the collision or seen the pedestrian immediately prior to the incident."

Potter author tells of suicidal thoughts

HARRY Potter author JK Rowling has spoken candidly about her thoughts of suicide following the break up of her first marriage.

Chat show queen Oprah Winfrey jetted into Edinburgh for an exclusive interview with Rowling at The Balmoral Hotel, which will air on the ABC channel in the US on Friday.

Rowling told how she thought about taking her own life in her twenties when she was struggling as a single mother after the separation from first husband, Jorge Arantes.

The writer said she suffered from serious depression as she tried to make ends meet and went to her GP's surgery for help.