9am Briefing: Firefighters battle council office blaze

FIREFIGHTERS extinguished a blaze at a disused council office block in West Lothian last night.

There were initially fears that people were still inside Lammermuir House in Dedridge when it caught light just before 8pm, but firefighters searched the three-storey building and found it was empty.

The fire was extinguished by 10.30pm.

The offices were used by West Lothian council staff until last year.

Government steps in over Margo death Bill

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THE Scottish Government is set to intervene in the row over how MSP Margo MacDonald's assisted dying Bill should be handled in parliament.

The parliament's business bureau has decided to set up a special committee to consider the Bill rather than send it to the health committee.

The bureau is sticking by its decision and will ask MSPs to back it in a vote tonight, but Ms MacDonald has tabled an amendment to send the Bill to the health committee.

And a government spokesman said: "Ministers believe it is mistaken and inappropriate not to follow the normal process in terms of sending this Bill to the relevant subject."

12,000 back ski centre

ALMOST 12,000 people have now joined an online campaign to save Hillend ski slope from closure.

The Facebook site set up by 14-year-old Boroughmuir High pupils Hannah Daulby and Lucy Singh just four days ago has won the backing of former Olympic star Finlay Mickel.

Midlothian Council says it is premature to talk of a sell-off at the Midlothian Snowsports Centre, but insiders fear it could close within months as the authority seeks budget cuts.

Kaunas flights announced

DIRECT flights from Edinburgh to the Lithuanian city of Kaunas are to be operated by budget airline Ryanair.

It is one of a series of new routes that the airline is expected to announce from both Edinburgh and Prestwick airports.