9am Briefing: Edinburgh's French Institute saved from closure

The French government has dropped plans to shut the institution after a petition gathered hundreds of signatures.

Staff at the 60-year-old institute in Randolph Crescent had been warned that it faced closure during a visit from the French Ambassador last year.

News of the reprieve emerged after First Minister Alex Salmond held talks in Paris yesterday with France's minister for European affairs, Pierre Lellouche.

Coach Works blaze tackled

FIREFIGHTERS yesterday battled a blaze at the former Annandale Coach Works warehouse in Leith.

Officers spent at least three hours tackling the fire in Salamander Place, which began at around 2.45pm.

The building was empty at the time of the fire.

Meanwhile a remote East Lothian cottage has been destroyed by fire.

Redside Farm Steading near North Berwick was set alight by flames from a wood-burning stove.

The blaze spread upwards from the ground floor and through the roof. No one was injured.

Doubt over qiuck link to London

HOPES that trains could travel between Edinburgh and London in less than four hours have been cast into doubt.

Managing director of the Government-owned East Coast rail company said timetabling clashes with the 2,300 trains which use the line every day, including freight, meant it could be difficult to provide the service, dubbed the "Flying Scotsman".