Talk of the Town: Wee Eck recalls losing his shirt

THE new biography of Alex Salmond has plenty tales from the First Minister's time at Linlithgow Academy and his student days at St Andrews University, but it also covers his "forgotten year" in between, when he took a business studies course at the Sighthill campus of Edinburgh College of Commerce, which later evolved into Napier University.

Mr Salmond's passion for horse racing was already firmly established.

He later recalled persuading fellow students to back the wrong horse in the 1973 Grand National - "I put the whole of Sighthill College HNC business studies course on Crisp" only for the race to be won by Red Rum.

Biographer David Torrance adds: "For the next four years Salmond backed Red Rum every time."

Storm didn't storm out

X FACTOR fans got some unwanted news when it was falsely claimed Edinburgh finalist Storm Lee had quit the show.

A rumour spread across Twitter and Facebook that the city-born singer had walked out of the competition because "they wouldn't let me be true to myself".

The account was later shut down for being a fake.

Granton raises its voice

PLANS by the UK coalition government to hold a referendum on a new voting system for Westminster on the same day as the Holyrood elections have caused much controversy.

So it was perhaps surprising that just 17 organisations and individuals responded to the invitation from the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee to send in their views on the proposal.

Among those doing their civic duty - along with four MSPs, several academics and election administrators - was Granton District Community Council.

It argued that both votes were very important and holding them on the same day would undermine the Scottish Parliament elections.

More civet coffee, vicar?

MILLIONS watch B-list wannabes gagging on creepy-crawlies on ITV's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, but now shoppers in the Capital can get in on the stomach-churning action.

Harvey Nichols has started stocking a selection of insect-based snacks at its city store.

The range, Edibles, includes such party nibbles as worm crisps, chocolate covered scorpions, toasted ants, Thai green curry flavoured crickets, toffee scorpion candy, and tequilla lollipops.

To wash it all down, try a cup of civet coffee, made from coffee beans that have, er, "passed through" a civet cat.

With Edibles priced from a mere 2.95, what are you waiting for?

Anyone for Tea?