Local news: Trek along to annual sci-fi group dinner

Trekkies across the Lothians are expected to descend on the annual dinner of the USS Valkyrie, Edinburgh's Science Fiction and Fantasy group.

The event, at the Canons' Gait bar, costs 5 deposit to secure entry.

It will feature auctions, raffles, quizzes and local writer Craig R McNeil as guest of honour, who will be reading from his work and taking part in a Q&A session.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).

Farm ploughs efforts into family fun day

A FAMILY fun day at a farm in Ladywell will take place today in aid of West Lothian Women's Aid.

Residents are being urged to come along to the event, which will be held at Newyearfield Farm.

The event will feature psychic readings, holistic therapies, face painting and raffles.

It will run from 11am to 3pm. There will be a small entrance fee, which includes a refreshment.

Centre's BBQ is hot stuff

The Stafford Centre in Broughton Street is celebrating a successful open day and barbecue event yesterday to raise awareness of the work it carries out supporting those with mental health problems.

Centre manager Michele Mason thanked local businesses for helping with supplies.

Store's sales slump again

The Edinburgh branch of John Lewis has suffered a slump in sales.

The store saw sales decline by 13.5 per cent in the week to July 30, which means that in its financial year so far sales are down by 2.7 per cent. It is running well behind the average UK store, which saw sales rise by 1.2 per cent last week.

Something fishy about record

IKEA Edinburgh has helped in setting a brand new Guinness World Record for hosting the world's largest crayfish party.

Sixty-three customers came together in the Edinburgh restaurant to attend a party held simultaneously with 19 other stores, with 4967 people taking part in total.

Botanics branches out into multimedia world

Conservationists at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) have launched a new website so people across the globe can champion their favourite forests.

Visitors to the website at www.rbge.org.uk/forgottenforests are able to watch films and view the photo gallery.

Elinor Gallant, exhibitions officer at RBGE, commented: "This is a very exciting new initiative to make sure forests around the world are not forgotten."