9am briefing: Snow expected to make way for big freeze

• Rail services from Waverley Station are badly disrupted this morning.

Forecasters predict further, light snow today, clearing by this evening.

Edinburgh Airport is open this morning, with passengers advised to contact their airline before travelling.

Trains have been badly affected today with most services north of Edinburgh and Glasgow withdrawn, and services cancelled between Edinburgh and Bathgate, Perth, Aberdeen, Inverness and Glasgow Central.

Danes look to spruce up Edinburgh's city centre

PRINCES Street could be revitalised with widened pavements, new cycle lanes and a reduced number of buses.

Danish architects charged with advising the council on improving the city centre have also suggested that car parking on George Street should be reduced and side streets given over to festival venues.

Gehl Architects, the firm credited with transforming Copenhagen into one of the world's most pedestrian-friendly cities, carried out a "health check" on the city centre, and said Princes Street was being let down by the lack of space for pedestrians and lack of activity after the shops had closed.

Artists join Assembly preservation campaign

TOP comedians and actors have joined a campaign to stop a controversial redevelopment of Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms.

Comics Johnny Vegas and Jo Brand and actors Simon Callow and Brian Cox are among those who have recorded special video messages to be shown to councillors who are due to decide on the 9.3m plans for the George Street venue next week.

The refurbishment, which will see the building close for around 18 months, would involve two new shop units being created on the ground floor facing on to George Street, along with a restaurant to the rear of the building.

Spirit of Scotland winners named

THE winners of the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards were announced last night.

Among the winners were Edinburgh-born arts impressario Richard Demarco, singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini, Ondine chef Roy Brett and rugby player Chris Paterson.

Round-the-world cyclist Mark Beaumont was named Top Scot.

MP expense totals revealed

LOTHIAN'S Westminster politicians claimed expenses totalling almost 63,000 in the three and a half months following the general election earlier this year.

East Lothian Labour MP Fiona O'Donnell had the biggest claim of any of the 59 Scottish MPs. Her 14,450.87 total included more than 6,000 in costs connected with her constituency office and surgery advertising, as well as 490.50 for interim hotel accommodation in London and 6138 for renting a property in London.

Edinburgh South Labour MP Ian Murray had the next biggest claim among the Lothians MPs – 11,382.29 – which included 245.70 hotel costs and 6513.04 for rent, as well as 467.80 for catching the train to and from London.