9am Briefing: Senior bankers enjoyed exclusive events at taxpayers' expense

It was revealed today that the bank's high-fliers were taken to Scotland football games, Six Nations rugby matches and exclusive golf tournaments at huge cost to the public purse, Bank bosses were also treated to five-star hotels, plush restaurants and sell-out events, including a Paul McCartney concert.

Meanwhile thousands of RBS staff were being laid off, with customers struggling to secure loans and mortgages.

FORMER RBS chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin is said to have stepped down from his role at troubled architecture firm RMJM.

The 52-year-old was brought in as an adviser to the firm a year ago on a reported six-figure salary in a bid to tighten the purse strings at the company, which had been hit hard by the recession.

A spokesman said the company would continue to call on the banker's services "as required", but admitted that at present its needs were "less demanding".

LOTHIAN Buses' marketing director Iain Coupar has become the latest in a line of senior executives to leave the company.

His departure comes weeks after the controversial appointment of Ron Hewitt as chairman and just as the organisation is about to embark on a new marketing drive.

It is understood Mr Coupar, who was on Lothian Buses' board of directors for the last 11 years, fell out with managing director Ian Craig over PR strategies, despite the company winning a string of marketing awards during his tenure.

Mr Coupar is said to have quit after being told he was being made redundant just before Christmas. City PR firm Liberty & Cole has been brought in to deal with the case.

THE controversial revamp of the Assembly Rooms is set to go ahead after being approved by Historic Scotland.

The multi-million-pound work at the George Street venue could begin within weeks after the influential organisation decided not to "call in" the plans despite an 8000-strong petition claiming the alterations would impact on the building's potential use as an Edinburgh Fringe venue.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the manager of a convenience store was assaulted during an attempted robbery in the Capital.

The incident happened around 6am yesterday at the Scotmid on Kingsknowe Road North.

The 28-year-old had just opened up and was putting a bin out at the front of the building when two male suspects attempted to force their way into the store.

The manager blocked their path and prevented them from entering the store, but was struck on the leg as the men tried to grab his safe key.

A colleague then came to the manager's assistance and the two men ran off.

The first suspect is described as white, in his late teens or early twenties, 6ft tall with a medium build. He was wearing a grey hooded top, dark trousers and black trainers. His face was covered with a dark scarf and he spoke with a local accent and "young sounding" voice.

The second suspect is described as white, in his late teens or early twenties, 6ft tall with a medium build. He was wearing a black hooded top, dark trousers and black trainers. His face was also covered with a dark scarf and he again spoke with a local accent and young sounding voice.

Anyone with information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.