9am Briefing: Religious studies teacher 'had sex with pupil'

A RELIGIOUS studies teacher at a Lothian school has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenage pupil.

Tommy Docherty, 51, has been charged with a sex offence against the girl when she was 15, and abusing his position by having a sexual relationship with her after she turned 16.

The teacher is head of religious and moral education at Newbattle Community High School near Dalkeith in Midlothian.

A police spokesman said: "A 51-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with historical sexual offences. A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal."

Rosyth jobs pledge

LABOUR was today due to make a manifesto pledge to save thousands of jobs in Rosyth and elsewhere by guaranteeing that plans for two new aircraft carriers will not be axed.

And it was expected to announce plans to pass legislation at Westminster before next year's Holyrood elections to increase the powers of the Scottish Parliament.

The future of the 5 billion aircraft carriers project has had a question mark over it because of a strategic defence review due after the general election.

Driver crawls out of overturned car

A DRIVER escaped serious injury today after the car he was driving crashed and overturned onto its roof.

The man had been driving along the A701 when his Honda Civic crashed just after 5:15am at the Gowkley Moss roundabout at Penicuik.

The driver managed to crawl out of the overturned vehicle and was standing by the roadside when firefighters arrived at the scene.

Plans for new Fringe venue

A NEW venue for the Fringe is set to be created in Princes Street Gardens this summer under plans by the art festival's biggest promoter.

A giant marquee will take centre stage in the Ross Bandstand area under the proposals to mark the 30th anniversary of the Assembly Rooms at the Fringe.

It is hoped the new venue will become a regular fixture after the failure of previous experiments in the gardens, it was reported today.

Rail union expects 'solid' support for strike

UNION bosses today said they expected "rock solid" support for a strike by rail workers over the absence of conductors on a new service.

They are predicting "significant disruption" to services during today's walkout, although ScotRail say nine out of 10 trains will run as usual.

Members of the RMT union are angry at ScotRail's plan to employ ticket examiners rather than conductors as the second person on the Airdrie to Bathgate line, due to open in December.

ScotRail said the trains are safe and no different from those which have operated in Strathclyde for 25 years.