POLICE are hunting vandals who caused £10,000 worth of damage by setting fire to four parking ticket machines in the Capital.
Officers said the machines, which are each worth £2500 and will now need to be replaced, were covered in a type of foam before being burnt. The incidents happened some time between 5pm on Tuesday and 8am on Wednesday. Two machines in Douglas Crescent
were vandalised, along with one in Eglington Crescent and one in Belford Road.
A police spokesman said: "This was a serious act of vandalism that resulted in £10,000 worth of damage. We are extremely keen for information to help us trace whoever is responsible.
"Anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the west end area of the city centre overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday should contact police immediately."
Anyone with any information should call Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311 3131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800-555 111.
Major damage as fire consumes food factory A FIRE has badly damaged premises at a food factory in West Lothian.
The alarm was raised shortly after 9pm last night at the Grampian Foods factory in Whitburn. The factory was well alight when firefighters reached the scene. No-one was hurt. Police and the fire brigade are continuing to investigate the cause.
Flames and smoke were visible across a wide area and more than 20 people called the fire service to report the blaze.
A turntable ladder was used as a water tower as crews fought to put out the fire. At its height around 35 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze. Crews were withdrawn at one stage because of fears of exploding cylinders and ScottishPower were asked to attend to check the feed from a substation to the premises. But by this morning there were only isolated pockets of fire remaining and a crew of around five firefighters was keeping a watching brief.
Luke Mitchell to hear result of appeal CONVICTED killer Luke Mitchell will today learn if an appeal lodged in a bid to clear his name has been successful.
Mitchell, 19, was ordered to serve at least 20 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering his 14-year-old girlfriend Jodi Jones in June 2003, when they were both pupils at St David's High School in Dalkeith. His appeal against the conviction was heard at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh in February.
PM dubs Rangers hooligans 'a disgrace'THE Prime Minister Gordon Brown branded rampaging Rangers fans a "disgrace," following their running battles with police during and after the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester. Mr Brown also added that scenes caught on CCTV cameras could damage England's chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup, according to reports.
Date for Tommy Burns' funeralTHE funeral of Celtic legend Tommy Burns will be held next week, the club confirmed. A requiem mass will take place on Tuesday at St Mary's Church in Calton, Glasgow, about a mile from Celtic Park. Tributes have been pouring in for Burns following his death from cancer aged 51.
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