9am briefing: RBS pulls out of open doors event over security fears

The bank was due to join the Capital's churches, courts and the government offices by opening its Gogarburn headquarters to the public on September 25 and 26, but has withdrawn following the recent climate camp protests.

A spokeswoman for the bank apologised, saying that bosses had taken on advice from local authorities and decided the size of the campus and number of visitors expected would have been very challenging.

Parties join forces to fight defence cuts

SCOTLAND'S political parties are set to make a joint submission to the Ministry of Defence in a bid to save the threatened aircraft carriers being built at Rosyth and on the Clyde.

First Minister Alex Salmond has called a meeting with the other party leaders for Monday and says a "united Scottish front" is needed to prevent cancellation of the contract on which thousands of jobs depend.

And he has proposed a joint meeting with Defence Minister Liam Fox to press the case.

Leith in the doldrums

LEITH has been branded a "ghost town" after a survey found 23 per cent of its shops are vacant.

The port was described as the hardest place in Scotland to run a shop - and local businesses blamed the tram works and the recession.

As well as topping the league in Scotland, Leith was the tenth worst out of 1,400 UK towns in the study by the Local Data Company.

Police face redundancy cash crisis

SCOTLAND'S police forces are facing further financial crisis after it emerged they need 37 million for redundancy payments, but have just 12m in reserves, it was reported today.

Police use their reserves to deal with unforeseen events such as the Climate Camp protests and high-profile murder investigations, but will have to use some to pay off civilian staff.

Lothian and Borders Police has 4.7m in reserves, while Strathclyde Police, which faces redundancy payments of more than 20m to 600 staff, has just 6m.