9am briefing: Susan Boyle feared career was over after Priory check-in

SUSAN Boyle said she panicked and thought "the dream was over" when she ended up in The Priory after losing Britain's Got Talent.

The West Lothian star, pictured, who shot to fame after appearing on the ITV1 reality show, admitted she had a bad temper but said it was a "defence mechanism" to deal with her sudden success.

In an interview with Piers Morgan to be screened tomorrow on ITV1, she said: "I did panic, because I'd just come second in a national competition. I didn't realise that that would be a good thing, not a bad thing."

She said she went to The Priory because she was exhausted but said she found the experience frightening.

Man due in court accused of murdering wife

A MAN will appear in court charged with murdering his millionairess wife.

Robert Brown, 46, who is reported to have grown up in Edinburgh, is suspected of killing his estranged wife Joanna, whose body has not yet been found.

Police are continuing to search for her in Windsor Great Park, which is near the sprawling country mansion where she lived.

Brown of Ascot, Berkshire, is in police custody and will appear at Slough Magistrates' Court today.

Go-between option rejected in tram dispute

TRAM bosses have rejected calls by construction companies to bring in an independent mediator to resolve their bitter dispute.

It is understood senior figures from Bilfinger Berger and Siemens, the two main contractors on the Capital's troubled 545m trams project, made separate approaches to council-owned tram firm TIE to suggest "top-line mediation", it was reported today.

However, the companies are said to have been rebuffed and given the impression TIE was determined to go to court.

Councillors are expected to discuss next month what the next move on the trams should be.

Chinese lantern sparks sea emergency

A LIFEBOAT was launched after coastguards received a 999 call reporting a red flare over Portobello - but it turned out to be a Chinese lantern.

The Kinghorn lifeboat carried out a sea search between Leith and Portobello, while Coastguard rescue teams from Fisherrow and South Queensferry searched the shoreline, but nothing was found.

Another report was received of a Chinese lantern in the area around the same time on Wednesday evening.

Helmsman Mike Chalmers said: "It serves as a good reminder that although Chinese lanterns may look nice, they can present problems and appear similar to red distress flares."

Edinburgh a class apart at Christmas

EDINBURGH has been rated the best city in the UK to celebrate Christmas and Hogmanay.

Figures compiled by market research firm, Scene Not Heard, found that of 2,500 Britons quizzed last month 70 per cent said the Capital was a better option than London, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle in the festive period, it was reported today.

More than a quarter of those polled said Edinburgh was the best place in the world for Christmas and New Year celebrations, while 17 per cent said it was "no different to anywhere else."