9am Briefing: Asbestos fear as firefighters tackle blaze

Decontamination equipment had to be used after firefighters battled a blaze in a derelict building containing asbestos.

The fire at the former Morris Working Men's Club in Morris Road, Newtongrange, was reported around 7.40pm last night. Firefighters using breathing apparatus and dustmasks fought the fire and had to use the decontamination equipment to clean themselves down afterwards.

Meanwhile Windymains Sawmills in Humbie, East Lothian, was damaged when one of its wood chipping machines caught fire just after 2am this morning. And a fire broke out in a flat at Sighthill View just after 11pm last night. Five people were treated for smoke inhalation.

• HARRY Potter author JK Rowling has been given the go-ahead to demolish a 1 million house to make way for a garden extension at her Edinburgh mansion.

Conservation watchdog the Cockburn Association noted the loss of a "perfectly adequate and functional recently-constructed dwelling" but did not object to demolition of the 1970s property because it went some way to restoring an original garden plot.

Planning officials said the proposals "enhanced the character and appearance" of the setting of the B-listed mansion and argued the principal of demolition was acceptable in this instance.

• THE first firing of Edinburgh's world famous One O'Clock Gun will be re-enacted on Saturday to mark its 150th anniversary.

Timed to coincide with the dropping of the Time Ball at the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill, the gun was first fired on June 7 1861, and has continued since then, six days a week, except Christmas Day, Good Friday and during the two world wars.

• COMEDIAN Arthur Smith is set to return to the Edinburgh Festival to host a show built around the drinking habit that nearly killed him.

While the funny man will remain stone cold sober during his chat show, his interviewees will have to be drunk. Guests will be breathalised to make sure they are over the limit.

He said: "People generally are quite drunk when they go on late night chat shows in Edinburgh. Normally they would try to be sensible. In this show, they've no need to be. In fact, it would be disappointing."