Local Round-up: Strong start to sale boosts Capital store

THE Edinburgh branch of department store chain John Lewis has recorded a strong start to its clearance sale.

The firm saw sales rise by 7.8 per cent in the week to June 25 compared with the same week last year.

Bosses at the firm say its sale, which started online on Wednesday and in-store on Thursday, got off to a "flying start".

Sales for the first 21 weeks of the Edinburgh store's year remain down by 1.9 per cent compared with the same period of last year.

Attraction scares up 21k for Sick Kids

VISITORS to The Real Mary King's Close have raised 21,000 for kids at Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

In less than two years, the attraction has collected small change left by visitors in its underground room, which is said to have once been inhabited by a little girl called Annie.

People have left Annie gifts, including toys and money. The cash is collected regularly and given to the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.

Step out at Princes Street shop

HIGH Street footwear brand Barratts opens its doors to a newly refurbished Princes Street store today.

The shop is the latest Barratts store to be refurbished following a chain of revamps in other locations, such as Leeds, Cardiff, Westfield and London.

Moderator to lead prayers

THE Moderator of the Church of Scotland will lead prayers at St Andrew's Clermiston later this month.

Right Reverend David Arnott, a regular presenter on BBC Radio Scotland's Thought for the Day for more than 35 years, will lead Sunday worship on July 17 from 10.30am.

Pipers flock to band contest

ENTRIES are coming in thick and fast for Edinburgh's first pipe band championship, with the Pipes and Drums of Central Scotland Police leading the way.

The band were one of the first to sign up to compete.

They will be among those competing at the Royal Highland Centre on July 24.

Turner Prize winner ready to unveil new work

AN exhibition by the renowned artist and Turner Prize winner Anish Kapoor will run from August 4 to October 9 at Edinburgh College of Art.

The exhibition comprises an early pigment work and a major new sculpture completed last year and exhibited in the UK for the first time.

The display is part of the Edinburgh Art Festival 2011.

Among the highlights of Ms Kapoor's work is a blood-red wax bell standing more than five metres tall.