9am Briefing: Four saved from early morning blaze in West End

FOUR people were rescued from a tenement in Buckingham Terrace in the early hours of this morning after fire broke out in a first floor flat.

The fire broke out at around 4.40am in the flat, which was unoccupied at the time. Two people had to be rescued from the flat above by turntable ladder, with another two led to safety from the next door block. One person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

A COUPLE from East Lothian are among the first to undergo a new type of embryo screening to avoid having a child born with genetic disease.

Stephen and Lee Smith already have a four-year-old daughter with cystic fibrosis, and so while trying to conceive their second child underwent pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to screen embryos for the condition.

Their son Thomas was born free of cystic fibrosis two months ago. They were treated at Edinburgh's Western General, the first hospital in Scotland to offer the service.

A MASKED robber wielding a knife threatened staff at a shop in Dedridge, Livingston, before making off with a three-figure sum of cash from the till.

The man, wearing a balaclava, entered the Best One shop in Nigel Rise at about 4.45pm on Saturday and threatened two members of staff.

The suspect is described as white, about 5ft 8in tall, of slim build, and wearing black clothing.

COLIN Firth was celebrating today after he was named best actor at the Golden Globes for his portrayal of a stammering King George VI in The King's Speech.

The award in Los Angeles last night increases his chances of an Oscar nomination later this month.