A 58-YEAR-old man from the Turriff area has been charged with committing offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, after a badger sett in the area was allegedly damaged.

THE mother of a girl killed after getting off a school bus has expressed her disappointment at a sheriff's findings into the 15 year old's death.

MEMBERS of the Banffshire business community met for breakfast yesterday (Monday) with Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Government's minister for rural affairs and the environment.

THE town of Macduff is in mourning following a road crash which claimed two lives.

Teenager Stacey King died just a few miles from her home in Melrose Crescent, Macduff, last Friday when her Peugeot 206 car was involved in a collision with a lorry.

The lorry driver, 62-year-old Huntly man Douglas Gray, also died at the scene.

A PLAN to take over the running of public toilets in Banff and Macduff has been rejected by Aberdeenshire Council - even though it would have saved it money.

A VITAL sexual health clinic aimed at young people has opened in Banff.

THE future of Macduff's famous outdoor swimming pool could lie in the hands of the public.

TURRIFF and District Cats Protection is appealing for help to pay for a substantial vet's bill incurred by a stray cat.

TWO Turriff teenagers "showed no remorse" after repeatedly punching and kicking their victim about the head and body, Banff Sheriff Court heard last week.

THE woman driver of car that knocked down and killed a Turriff schoolgirl tried desperately to give her the kiss of life.

Gillian Ansell (54), of Newburgh, Ellon told a fatal accident inquiry last week into the death of 15-year-old Robyn Oldham that as a care assistant she was trained in emergency first aid and CPR (cardio-pulminary resuscitation).

SMALL groups in Banff fear they could lose out when a new community centre is established in the town.

RESIDENTS in Aberdeenshire are being warned to be on their guard against telephone scams.

AREAS around the River Deveron should benefit from a new £1 million scheme aimed at giving earlier flood warnings on North-east rivers.

A CHARITY group is in need of support to get it back to sea to continue its conservation work.

THE future of Tarlair swimming pool complex will come under scrutiny again today (Tuesday) at a special meeting of the Banff and Buchan Area Committee.

SCOTTISH junior shooters Kay Copland, from Banff, and team-mate Jennifer McIntosh, from Falkirk, could not hide their delight after becoming Commonwealth champions in Delhi, India, on Friday.

The pair, aged just 18 and 19 respectively, won the women's three positions team gold medal at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships - by a single point.

A BENEFITS cheat collected £20,000 by making false claims that she was a lone parent over a three-year period, a court heard last week.

FIRE crews tackled a house blaze in Cullen last Tuesday afternoon.

AN application to build an £8 million biomass heat and power plant at Boyndie has been approved by councillors.

A SECOND break-in at Macduff Church in the space of a week has prompted a police warning about a recent increase in thefts from property in Banff and Macduff.

KING Edward Primary School has been given a glowing report by inspectors.