Talk of the Town: Fans solve mystery of steel thefts

POLICE are hunting for the thieves who lifted 20 tonnes of steel designed for the Edinburgh Tattoo grandstand - and it seems a few local football fans are keen to help.

With the steel raid coming just days after Hearts announced plans for a new stadium, football fans from the east of the city were clearly suspicious.

And yesterday Hibs fans took to message boards to suggest that the steel was not nicked for scrap, but was in fact just the first piece in the jigsaw for Hearts.

As if that wasn't enough, word reaches us that they have piled further misery on the team they love to hate, with Hibbies gleefully filling out a questionnaire on the proposed stadium to suggest it be built in various locations - including, allegedly, the bottom of the Forth.

Alex's Standard approach to the royal wedding

FEW people would have had Alex Salmond down as a flag-waving, bunting-hanging royalist, but it shows you how wrong you can be.

A rueful First Minister admits that he "missed a trick" when it came to the royal wedding.

"I should have had this entire city - I would have had - covered in Royal Standards," he has been telling the political magazine Prospect. Wow, that's enthusiasm for you.

Ewan pops into town

FILM fans will be thrilled by the news that Ewan McGregor will be in the Capital for the premiere of his latest movie, Perfect Sense, during this year's Edinburgh International Film festival.

However, festival director James Mullighan was perhaps a little over the top in suggesting the Festival Theatre - where the film will be shown - is "one of the finest movie-going experiences in the UK".

Granted, it is an impressive building, but film fans used to the huge seats and endless legroom offered at multiplexes raised a few grumbles about the venue, and its more cosy conditions, on its debut last year.

And one fan commented: "Can you even get popcorn there?"

Food survey causes a stir

EDINBURGERS like to think of themselves as foodies - so a new survey placing the Capital behind Birmingham will not go down well.

The study on taste suggests Londoners have the most discerning taste buds in Britain due to their varied diet, according to research by bagel makers New York Bakery Co, with Edinburgh - and Glasgow - bringing up the rear in sixth behind Birmingham, Newcastle, Cardiff & Swansea and Manchester.