Talk of the Town

A RECORD shop in Edinburgh is hoping England's World Cup campaign will help it shift an old LP that has failed to sell in three years.

Tommy Robertson, who runs Backtracks Records at Tollcross, said he's slashed the price of England's official 1970 World Cup anthem, Back Home, to 5.

Mr Robertson said: "I've cut the price in half and hopefully it will be novelty enough for someone to have."

It is hoped if someone does buy the record it will act as a lucky charm and England's fortunes in South Africa will mirror their performance in that tournament. Then, they crashed out in the quarter finals in comical style to West Germany.

MP gets predecessor's secret off his chest

NEW Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP Mike Crockart had a revelation to make about his predecessor, John Barrett, when he made his maiden speech in the Commons last week.

After praising Mr Barrett's dedication to his constituents, Mr Crockart told fellow MPs: "In his time, John met many interesting people, including the Queen and Dolly Parton. I will let the House into a secret – it was the photograph of Dolly Parton that hung on the wall in the office."

City wants Debbie to call

ROCK fans were soaking up the atmosphere at Rock Ness over the weekend, and if surveys are to be believed, most of the Edinburgh fans would only have had eyes for Blondie legend Deborah Harry.

A very unofficial poll found that the singer was the performer local fans would most like to share a pint with. The study was carried out by the official beer of Rock Ness, Carling, who would also have been put on their guard by the fact that 24 per cent of crowds at the festival said their biggest irritation at such events was warm beer.

Love and avocados

GAIL Porter has been revealing the secret behind the return of her hair – involving love and avocados.

The 39-year-old recently revealed five years of baldness caused by alopecia had come to an end, saying it was down to being in love with indie rocker Jonny Davies.

"I'm just in a good place, I'm happy and I've got a new boyfriend and he puts it down to him," she said. "I've also got a little concoction of avocado oil and olive oil which I rub on my scalp every day and it seems to be working."

The Edinburgh-born celebrity also admitted there had been a few unexpected up-sides to being bald, saying: "When my hair fell out everyone forgot I was blonde and I was doing these documentaries, which is great."