9am briefing: bomb alert in Wester Hailes

A MAN has been charged in connection with a bomb squad raid in Wester Hailes yesterday.

The 34-year-old was taken in by police yesterday after detectives and army bomb disposal officers descended on a top-floor flat at Dumbryden Garden at around midday.

A 25-year-old man has also been arrested, but not yet charged.

For the full story see today's Evening News.

Crucial by-election win for Labour

LABOUR today declared a fightback was underway after holding onto the Inverclyde seat in a by-election.

They claimed the result showed the Scottish National Party's "bandwagon has ground to a halt".

The outcome will bring some relief to Labour leader Ed Miliband. It saw the party's Iain McKenzie hold the seat with a majority of 5838 – less than half the 14,426 margin gained by his predecessor David Cairns, whose death sparked the poll.

Baboon makes bid for freedom

THE monkey house at Edinburgh Zoo had to be closed after a baboon escaped from its enclosure.

The Gelada Baboon vaulted an electric fence in its bid for freedom.

The incident happened just after 3pm yesterday, with witnesses saying it had to be evacuated for around 20 mins.

Pensioner sets fir to front door

AN OAP set fire to her front door with a blowtorch as she tried to kill weeds.

Firefighters were called yesterday afternoon to the address in Blackburn, West Lothian, after the 84-year-old ignited the door frame.

They put out the blaze at West Mains Street, and she was treated for shock at the scene before being taken to hospital.