9am Briefing: Polar bear faces being put down after zoo move

MERCEDES the polar bear faces being put down less than 18 months after her move from Edinburgh Zoo.

Mercedes – one of the country's most popular animal attractions – is suffering from crippling arthritis and is on a cocktail of drugs to deal with her condition.

And the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland may have to end the 30-year-old bear's life if her health does not improve.

Her condition emerged not long after 50,000 was raised to move her from the city's zoo to a larger enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park in the Cairngorms National Park.

• THE new Forth Road Bridge is to be given a name after all.

Earlier this month, Transport Minister Keith Brown appeared to snub calls for a competition to name the 2 billion structure and insist it would continue to be known simply as the Forth Replacement Crossing.

But now Transport Scotland has claimed his comments were misunderstood.

A spokeswoman said: "While there is not a pressing need to decide on a name for the new bridge at this stage, before any construction has started or even the contract to build it has been awarded, of course arrangements to consider the naming of the new bridge will be put in place in due course."

• A MAN has been taken to hospital with suspected shoulder injuries after a collision involving a motorbike and a car in West Lothian.

The accident took place outside the Shell petrol station on Armadale Road in Whitburn just after 1pm yesterday.

The male motorcyclist, thought to be around 42, was taken to the Royal Infirmary.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said there were reports that the bike had gone on fire after the crash.

• A CARAVAN has been destroyed and a neighbouring property damaged after a blaze broke out in Haddington last night.

Fire crews were called to the fire in a two-storey house and caravan around 7pm.

The fire broke out in the caravan and spread to the house at Colstoun Estate, behind Lennoxlove House.

A total of 12 firefighters and two appliances from Haddington attended the scene.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said the fire was brought under control by 8.30pm

• A MAN was stuck between two railings for almost an hour after attempting to take a shortcut.

The 40-year-old tried to jump the fence on Giles Street in Leith, at around 9pm yesterday, but managed to wedge his knee in the metals railings about five feet from the ground.

He was spotted by a passer-by some 45 minutes later, who called emergency services and stayed with him until they arrived.

Two fire crews attended and cut the man free, and he was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with suspected "crush" injuries.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said: "We were called to the scene on Giles Street, after reports a man had got himself stuck between railings.

"He had been there for about 45 minutes before a passer-by phoned 999.

"After being freed the man was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary."