9am Briefing: Chemical leak puts pool staff member in hospital

FIREFIGHTERS today said a worker at a prestigious private members' swimming club who was exposed to a chemical leak could have suffered "very serious injury" if emergency services had not acted so quickly.

The 32-year-old male member of staff at the 900-a-year members only Drumsheugh Baths Club, in the city's New Town, was left "struggling for breath" after being exposed to chemical chlorine yesterday at 5.15pm.

It is believed that a quantity of the potentially lethal substance was accidentally left on a floor in a private back room, although it is unclear how it got there.

More than 25 firefighters, four police officers and five ambulances rushed to the scene on Belford Road. All 12 club members using the pool facilities at the time were evacuated as a precaution.

The employee affected was taken to the ERI, where his condition is reported as "not serious".

Moffat future in the balance

LABOUR Party bosses are expected to rule next week on the future of East Lothian Labour MP Anne Moffat.

A meeting of the party's national executive committee on Wednesday could pave the way for her deselection ahead of the general election.

Members of her local party last month voted 25-5 in favour of a motion calling for the selection process to be reopened.

Ms Moffat is expected to resist moves to oust her.

Lloyds to cut charity funding

THE Lloyds Banking Group is to stop funding its charitable arm in Scotland, it was revealed today.

For 25 years it has supported the Lloyds TSB Foundation, which has donated 85 million to Scottish charities.

But the bank said it will now service a nine-year notice period to the Foundation, following a bitter row between the two groups.

A covenant, sealed by an act of parliament, previously ensured the Foundation received a one per cent share of the group's pre-tax profits.

But last year, Lloyds issued a warning that it was not expected to make any profits, owing to the banking crisis, and instead offered a funding package over the next four years, until it returned to profit.

The Foundation described yesterday's move as "as act of determined vandalism".

Homelessness falls

HOMELESSNESS in Edinburgh has fallen over the past three years despite fears about the impact of the recession.

Figures show 4,600 people have been given temporary accommodation this financial year, which is a six per cent reduction on last.