Victoria Raimes: Don't let reality of urban myths haunt you

PARENTS clung tightly to their children last week after hearing of a mad child snatcher on the rampage. After a woman in a yellow car tried to grab a boy in a car park, the crazed lady was apparently spotted lurking outside several schools in Gorebridge, Bonnyrigg and Lasswade.

Except that she wasn't spotted. And it turned out there was no kidnapping spree.

Despite several reports by concerned parents and residents, it transpired that after the first incident - the report about the car park - a rumour had been sparked. Snowballing from schoolyard chatter, a gossiping Facebook group and exchanges on twitter, an urban legend had been established.

Urban myths have been passed on for centuries, often developing from old folklore, Chinese whispers and rumour. And now it has been made even easier to pass on by instant messaging services such as Facebook and twitter. Dozens of urban legends have passed through the Capital and Scotland over the years, some of which are so tantalising that they have made their way around the world. Nobody could say they haven't heard of Nessie, for example - although some would argue Scotland's most famous monster is in no way mythical.

But there are a few more wild tales, and here, with the help of Brian Hennigan's book, Scottish Urban Myths (unfortunately now out of print), the Evening News shares some of the most popular urban myths - and a few quirky local ones.

TOP URBAN MYTHS

The breakdown

A couple taking a trip break down on a country road in the dead of night. The boyfriend goes off for help while the woman sits and listens to the radio. She hears that an axe murderer is on the loose and fears for her partner's life. As she waits anxiously for his return, it starts to rain. But it turns out the rain is the blood of her murdered boyfriend. The axe murderer is on the roof.

Lady GaGa is a Hermaphrodite

She's one of the world's most famous popstars - and according to legend, she is both a man and a woman. When a statement, supposedly from the rather eccentric singer, told the world "Yes. I have both male and female genitalia, but I consider myself a female" fans were desperate to know more. But the statement was rapidly dismissed as "ridiculous" by her management, and Lady GaGa herself has denied the rumour in several high profile interviews.

Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary - also known as Hell Mary and Mary Worth - is an evil spirit that can be brought to life if you chant her name in front of a mirror five times. Do this and she is said to appear and haunt the person who spoke her name.

Scottish myths

The fat man and his cat

A man from Edinburgh who had a cat, Fat Gregory, would go to the pub every evening, get drunk, then return to feed his companion.

One night he realised he had forgotten his keys, but as he could hear Gregory meowing sadly for his supper, the intoxicated man decided to try and squeeze through the cat flap. Naturally, he got stuck.

Two passing theatre performers stumbled across the stuck man, but as they themselves were tipsy they decided to have a bit of fun.

Pulling down his trousers, they set about painting a landscape onto his bare bottom, Edinburgh Castle included. Twenty four hours later the man was rescued. Until then, all passers-by had mistook the scene for a piece of student street theatre. He made over 150 in donations.

West Lothian Bargain Mother

A man was shopping in a Bathgate supermarket when he realised a middle-aged woman was looking at him, sad and pleading. At the check-out she explained that he reminded her of her dead son, who had passed away exactly a year to the day. The man, feeling sorry for her, chatted for a while. Just before she turned to leave, she said: "Do you think you could do one thing for me? As I leave, could you say 'Goodbye, mum'?"

Two minutes later, after she had packed her groceries into five carrier bags and was heading out of the door, he played his part, dutifully speaking his lines as she walked away.

Five minutes later he received a much larger bill for his groceries than he was expecting. On questioning the cost of his shopping, the cashier confidently responded: "Your mother said you'd pay for her shopping too."

The Scrooge

A notoriously selfish but successful woman from Aberdeen hated giving her staff a bonus at Christmas. But after visiting Glasgow during the festive season one year, she was touched by the generous nature of the locals. She vowed to change, so come Christmas time, she bought cards and wrote out personal cheques for each member of staff.

But after the new year she noticed that the atmosphere within her office was noticeably frostier, rather than better. She went to her office to try and work out what could have caused the offense. It was quickly explained as there, on her desk, was the pile of cheques she meant to put in the envelopes. Horrified, she recalled the message she had written in each card: "Merry Christmas, you'll have to buy your own present this year!".