9am Briefing: Police probe baseball bat attack in street

POLICE are probing a mystery baseball bat attack on a man who was left for dead in the street.

The 42-year-old victim was found unconscious with serious head injuries on Lochend Avenue at 11pm on Saturday and rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

He was later transferred to St John’s Hospital in Livingston for specialist treatment, where his condition is said to be serious but not life threatening.

But the injuries mean the man cannot remember anything about the attack or who was responsible.

* THE Miller family has given up control of Edinburgh-based builders the Miller Group in a £160 million refinancing deal with US private equity giant Blackstone.

Details of the deal have not been released, but reports today said banks including Lloyds and RBS were likely to have swapped some of the firm’s £730m debt for equity.

Chief executive Keith Miller will continue in his post and the head office will remain in the Capital.

Miller Group, founded in 1934, is the UK’s largest privately-owned builder and employs around 1400 staff.

* THREE million jobs could be at risk if Britain does not stay at the heart of Europe, leading businessmen suggested today.

In an open letter, a group of 20 businessmen urged the Government to seize opportunities to “re-engage in the decision-making process” in the European Union, arguing that Europe’s future was vital to Britain’s economic interests.

Signatories include Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, British Telecom chairman Sir Mike Rake, and Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of advertising group WPP.

Their intervention comes 10 days after David Cameron vetoed EU treaty reforms.

* THE HMV Picture House in Edinburgh is expected to be among the live music venues the entertainment chain is considering selling off in the wake of announcing half-year pre-tax losses of £45.7 million.

HMV, which sold Waterstone’s in the summer to appease its lenders, yesterday said it was putting its profitable HMV Live music operation - which has 13 venues - under a review which could lead to a sell-off.

The firm has faced a significant downturn due to the decline of CD and DVD markets.