9am Briefing: Prison officer in hospital after Addiewell riot

A PRISON officer was taken to hospital after a riot at Addiewell Prison in West Lothian last night.

It was reported that more than 100 inmates went on the rampage, barricading themselves in two wings after being refused methadone by staff.

The 29-year-old male prison officer was taken to St John's Hospital with a cut to the back of his head, his mouth burst open and facial injuries.

Tributes to fallen soldier

A CITY-BASED soldier who was killed by a blast in Afghanistan was hailed by comrades as "the complete package".

Lance Corporal Daniel Cooper, 21, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles – based at Edinburgh's Redford Barracks – was killed in an explosion as he tried to clear a path in northern Helmand on Sunday.

Spinal fears for crash victim

A MAN was rushed to hospital with suspected spinal injuries after the van he was travelling in ended up in a tree in West Lothian.

Two vehicles were involved in the smash on the A706 near Bathgate at around 1pm yesterday.

Firefighters were called out to cut out a man aged around 60 who was trapped inside the van. The car occupants were described as "walking wounded".

Lithuania crime claims

ORGANISED crime groups from Lithuania are trafficking young men into Scotland to shoplift and send the stolen goods back to their homeland, it was reported today.

Police chiefs have told MSPs the young men are often forced into crime under threat of serious assault or harm to their families in Lithuania.