9am Briefing: Man in hospital after firefighters pull him from blaze

A 27-YEAR-OLD man went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital after a fire tore through a house in Dalkeith.

The man had to be carried out by firefighters after suffering severely from smoke inhalation in the blaze, which broke out on South Street at around 8am yesterday morning.

Paramedics managed to resuscitate the man on the way to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and he was conscious and breathing when they arrived. His condition today was described as stable.

Meanwhile, a takeaway shop was destroyed after a fire in its kitchen in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Around 25 firefighters tackled the blaze at the property in West Main Street, Whitburn, after it broke out at around 4am. Nobody was in the building.

Woman injured in smash

A WOMAN was taken to hospital with suspected neck and spinal injuries following a head-on smash yesterday.

Emergency services said torrential weather conditions reduced visibility and caused one driver to stray on to the wrong side of the A702 Easter Howgate and hit an oncoming car.

Two people in the oncoming car had to be cut free by fire crews, with one being removed on a spinal board with suspected neck and spinal injuries.

Trees felled by high winds

DOZENS of trees were felled during yesterday's high winds in the Capital.

Trees and bushes toppled over as winds of up to 60mph battered the city.

The worst incident, at East Fettes Avenue, saw a large tree trunk crash on to the road at about 7pm.

Traffic was blocked for more than two hours as a tree surgeon removed the debris.

Ryanair backs plans for drop-off charge

BUDGET airline Ryanair has defied its rivals and backed plans to charge passengers 1 to be dropped off by car at the Capital's airport.

The "no-frills" carrier – which recently announced plans to charge travellers 1 to use onboard toilets – said it had "absolutely no problem" with the controversial fee.

A spokesman for Ryanair added that "the current drop area was abused and often resembled a car park".

The Irish airline is in the minority among airlines, with budget rival easyJet accusing BAA Edinburgh of "double-charging" as facilities costs are already built into the ticket price.