9am Briefing: Tie 'may lack skills' to finish tram project

THE competence of Edinburgh's Tram company to finish the multi-million pound project was called into question in a leaked report today.

An investigation by public spending watchdog Audit Scotland, due to be published officially tomorrow, warned that the council-owned company Tie may lack the skills necessary to finish the job.

The draft report said urgent work is needed to convince the public that the team at TIE is up to the job in view of a series of high profile departures in recent months.

• POLICE have denied leaking tapes of Tommy and Gail Sheridan being interviewed by officers during their perjury investigation into the couple.

Lothian and Borders chiefs have told their local police board that they have carried out an internal inquiry and found the leak to the BBC did not come from the force.

They have also contacted the Crown Office, which also had the tapes, and have been told they did not leak them either.

It follows a formal complaint from Mrs Sheridan against the police, alleging she was persecuted by them because of her religion.

• A MAN was led to safety by fire crews after a blaze broke out in the kitchen of his second-floor flat in the early hours of this morning.

The 48-year-old was treated for smoke inhalation after the fire broke out at the property in St Leonard's Hill, Newington, at 2.50am.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued the man and put out the fire.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said the man was treated by paramedics but did not require hospital treatment.