9am Briefing: Neighbours save woman from burning house

A WOMAN has been rescued from her burning home by two neighbours who rushed into her house and put out the fire.

The 40-year-old was led to safety by her neighbours, who lived in the adjacent terraced house in Camps Rigg, in the Carmondean area of Livingston, last night at around 10.15pm.

The woman suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to nearby St John's Hospital as a precaution. A fire service spokeswoman said the neighbours had "taken care of everything" before crews arrived.

• POLICE have recovered a Siberian husky who was stolen from outside a supermarket by two thieves.

Aldo was left outside Morrisons in Carmondean, Livingston, on Sunday afternoon for around five minutes but was untied and led away.

However, the three-year-old dog, who is worth around 1000, was found safe and well following a plea from owner Julia Svetska. The 33-year-old lab technician spent Sunday night and Monday morning searching the surrounding streets and parks for her beloved pet.

Police are still investigating the theft and are appealing for any witnesses who saw him being led away around 4.20pm to come forward.

• RESIDENTS in Duddingston are at loggerheads with the National Trust for Scotland over plans to sell off a community garden, it was reported today.

The garden was created using money from the legacy of Christina McNiven, former secretary of the local conservation society, who left her entire estate to the trust.

But now the trust wants to dispose of the garden, saying resources are urgently needed for properties of national importance.

It has agreed to give the residents' society first option on the site, and restrict its future use as a community garden, but is insisting it must pay the market value.

The move has prompted accusations of "oppressive bureaucracy", "arrogant administration", and "neglect" over the trust's handling of the bequest.

• THE new chief executive of Aegon UK, which faces the prospect of slashing up to 600 jobs in Edinburgh this year, has pledged to fight to defend Scottish jobs and believes there is no need for "major outsourcing".

However, Adrian Grace reportedly said the firm's Dutch parent company had been "brutally clear" that its UK operation will have to battle against Asia for investment to avoid further job cuts.