Talk of the Town: Reply to Christmas card. . or face jail!

EVERYBODY likes getting Christmas cards.

Or rather most people do, but perhaps not those getting them from Lothian and Borders Police force.

Christmas cards were sent out to a number of addresses earlier this week urging those currently wanted on warrant to come forward and resolve the matter before the Christmas holidays.

Police say lots of people did come forward but about double the amount didn't.

Officers have now nabbed 20 and warned the others they'll be looked for and could face Christmas behind bars.

Surgery is the place to be for candid comments

ALEX Salmond could not resist taking the opportunity at First Minister's Questions to tease Liberal Democrats about the recent spate of embarrassing comments made by Lib Dem ministers to undercover reporters posing as constituents.

When Scottish Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott asked the formal question he asks every week - "When does the First Minister next plan to meet the Secretary of State for Scotland?" - Mr Salmond was ready.

"I'm going to make an appointment at his constituency surgery, then I will find out what he really, really thinks."

Attenborough wins vote

IN this cynical modern age Christmas is less seen as a time of wonder and more as an excuse to abandon all sense in a gigantic High Street shopathon.

So it is heartening to learn that the nations' movie-goers have decided the best Santa is still one of the most sweet and traditional versions.

In a poll by LOVEFilm, members voted Lord Richard Attenborough as the ultimate Santa, for his turn in the sweet children's movie Miracle on 34th Street.

Of course, the cruel humour was not lagging far behind - Billy Bob Thornton's foul-mouth alcoholic shop-lifting portrayal in Bad Santa was in second place.

Santa's favourite tipple

TALKING of the man himself, watch out for a sozzled Santa if you're out and about tonight.

Research by national pub group and champions of real ale, Ember, found that nearly one in five festive Scots will be leaving a tot of whisky out for Santa Claus.

Baileys is the second favourite tipple, with 11 per cent planning to pour him a glass of the popular beverage, while nine per cent will leave him a pint of lager or tot of sherry.

Thank goodness it's the reindeer who drive the sleigh.