9am Briefing: Pedestrian killed on motorway slip road

A PEDESTRIAN has been killed after he was hit by a car on a motorway slip road.

The accident took place at the north end of the A899, close to the Deer Park roundabout near Livingston, just before 6pm yesterday.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car was uninjured.

The road was closed for three hours following the accident.

• A MAN who subjected a woman to a horrific hour-long sex assault had threatened his victim's young relative with a knife before carrying out the attack early on Saturday.

The 39-year-old woman was temporarily living with her brother-in-law and his young son at their home in Livingston because she was in the middle of moving home.

The attacker ordered the terrified man and his son at knifepoint into a room before subjecting his victim to the serious sexual assault.

• FEARS were raised last night that the cost of one of the biggest construction projects in Scotland could rise after an American rail company pulled out of the race for the contract.

It was reported that Fluor has unexpectedly quit one of three groups that have been shortlisted for the 300 million Borders railway - the longest new rail line planned in Britain.