'Extreme' fire warning in place in parts of Scotland despite freezing temperatures

Aberdeen.Emergency services raced to the scene on Pitmedden Road at around 4pm on Monday, March 1.Thick plumes of black smoke have filled the sky and can be seen from miles around, local reports claim.Did you know you can keep up to date with the latest news by signing up to our daily newsletter?We send a morning and lunchtime newsletter covering the latest headlines every day.We also send coronavirus updates at 5pm on weekdays, and a round up of the week's must-read stories on Sunday

coronavirus case number in all local authority areas in Scotland has been published by health officials.Public Health Scotland said that in the week between February 15 and 21, Scotland recorded a total of 5,736 positive cases of Covid-19 - which represents 5.0% of people tested for the virus.Scotland’s seven-day positivity rate per 100,000 population in those seven days stood at 105.0, according to the latest data.Falkirk recorded the highest number of cases per 100,000 population during this

Dumfries and and robbed a three-figure cash sum in an "extremely frightening ordeal". The terrifying incident has left a 74-year-old man shaken as cops launch a manhunt to find the callous thieves responsible.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.An extremely rare species of spider has been found in Dumbarton.The Six-spot Comb-foot spider (Rugathodes sexpunctatus), was discovered in Havoc Meadows on Christmas Eve and again on New Year’s Day.Recorded at only two other British locations (both in Scotland), it is closely related to the widow spiders, but at less than 3mm in body length, it is harmless to humans as it cannot pierce human skin.The spiders

Salmond’s submission to the Holyrood Inquiry.A Committee Inquiry is investigating the SNP Government’s mishandling of sexual misconduct complaints against Salmond when he was First Minister.Salmond took the Government to court and it was accepted the internal probe, which destroyed his friendship with Nicola Sturgeon, had been unlawful.Separately, he was acquitted of sexual offences after a trial last year.Salmond’s allies believe Government and SNP figures tried to plot his downfall.The Inquiry

direct to your inboxFurther freezing temperatures, snow and gusts of up to 40mph are forecast for parts of the UK as the cold snap continues.Met Office forecasters said records for the lowest temperatures had been broken by 'quite some way' in recent days as the 'extreme freeze' saw the mercury plummet in some areas.The weather station in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, recorded a temperature of minus 23C on Wednesday night, the lowest in the UK since 1995.Temperatures in areas in the Scottish

direct to your inboxAs Storm Darcy continues to grip parts of the UK in a wintry blast, a yellow weather warning for snow remains in place today for parts of Greater Manchester.Snow and ice warnings remain in place for most of England and Scotland as the effects of Storm Darcy continue to cause traffic delays and other hazards.The Met Office has yellow warnings for snow and ice current for the eastern half of Great Britain extending to the Shetland Islands, advising of likely longer journey

lockdown restrictions.The fast food giant today announced plans to reopen branches in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for walk-in takeaway on February 22.Enhanced safety measures will be introduced at all restaurants in a bid to protect customers and workers while the more-transmissible ‘UK variant’ of the coronavirus continues to circulate around the country.But the plans have not been extended to Scotland as a result of the country’s stricter measures on takeaway services.Hospitality

February is set to be the coldest month on record in Scotland after bookies slashed odds as an amber weather warning for snow is issued.Temperatures could drop to -10C on Monday night in parts of the country as Storm Darcy brings freezing easterly winds which lead to blizzards, snow drifts and treacherous ice.Leading bookmaker Ladbrokes cut the odds on this winter ending as the coldest since records began in the UK to 1/3 as temperatures continue to drop.It comes as an amber weather warning for

Met Office has issued an amber snow warning for parts of Scotland until midday on Saturday as a freezing blast sweeps across the country.Cold air from Russia and Eastern Europe will move across the UK over the coming days bringing heavy snowfall, with further weather warnings in place until the middle of next week.Storm Darcy's strong easterly winds will likely wreak havoc and lead to blizzards, snow drifts and ice forming on exposed power lines and phone masts.Snow will fall over higher ground

The STUC is calling on Nicola Sturgeon to introduce a national subsidy for companies which switch to a 32-hour working week with no loss of pay. They point to a pilot scheme in Spain where similar proposals have been backed by 50 million euro of government funding.