Two boys and a girl have been charged in connection with multiple bin fires that caused significant damage to shops in Dundee city centre.

Tue 06 Jan, 6.00 pm

The mother of a young transplant patient has been sharing with STV News how her daughter has been given a second chance at life, and is starting a new year with a new heart.



Brie McCann from Glasgow overcame numerous setbacks while waiting to be placed on the urgent list.



Her family say the six-year-old has defied all odds, and they're now cherishing every minute with Brie, who is recovering at home, after her life-saving treatment.

Sharon Frew

Brie McCann overcame numerous setbacks while waiting to be placed on the urgent list.

‘Our daughter has a second chance at life after heart transplant’

Bosses at STV say the launch of its new radio station has been well received - after going on air at 8am this morning with Breakfast show hosts Ewen Cameron and Cat Harvey.



It comes on the eve of industrial action at STV News over proposed job cuts and changes to its news service.

Reporter

Olly Dickinson

STV Radio went live at 8am this morning with presenters Ewen Cameron and Cat Harvey. 

STV launches radio station amid industrial dispute

An outdoor education charity in South Lanarkshire fears it will have to close if plans for a battery storage and solar development site are approved.



Loch Wood Community Woodland, near Lesmahagow, is used by more than 200 pupils.

Vidushi Tiwari

Loch Wood Community Woodland, near Lesmahagow, is used by more than 200 pupils.

Outdoor education charity facing closure over solar site plans

After four and a half years closed, the owner of Edinburgh's Elephant House says he feared it may never reopen following a devastating fire.



It was branded "the birthplace of Harry Potter" because it was one of JK Rowling's favourite locations to write the first book in the world-famous series.



Now the café has finally opened its doors again, with many much-loved features still intact.

Lewis Michie

Edinburgh's Elephant House was one of JK Rowling's favourite locations to write the first book.

‘Birthplace of Harry Potter’ café reopens after devastating fire

Tonight, an amber weather warning remains in place for large parts of the North and North East.



More snow is expected in the coming hours and days.



Some schools will remain closed tomorrow, and motorists are being warned to expect further disruption.



Police are continuing to advise people to consider whether their journey is necessary.

Steven Brown

Police are continuing to advise people to consider if their journey is necessary.

Amber snow warning remains in place for the North and North East

As snow and ice continue to blanket large parts of the north, Aberdeenshire Council has declared a major incident, with some isolated communities cut off and supplies in shops running low.



It's been another day of misery with hundreds of schools staying shut.



Travel continues to be disrupted with roads blocked, while rail services and some flights have been cancelled.



STV News has been to the Aberdeenshire community of Tarland to see how they're coping.

Grainne NiGhreachain

STV News has been to the Aberdeenshire community of Tarland to see how they're coping.

Another day of misery as winter weather disruption continues

A consultation is to be held on whether the lynx species should be reintroduced into the wild in Scotland.



Campaigners say the cats would boost the country's biodiversity - but farmers fear a potential livestock disaster.

Nicola McAlley

Campaigners say the cats would boost the country's biodiversity.

Public consultation to be held on reintroduction of lynx

Snow and ice are continuing to cause widespread disruption across the North and North East.



Hundreds of schools were forced to close, and travel has been severely hit.



Drivers faced a difficult journey to work after the Christmas break, with some roads gridlocked or blocked.



Flights from Aberdeen airport and rail services were also cancelled.



People are being asked to look out for elderly and vulnerable neighbours who may be isolated in the plunging temperatures.

Haley Bouma

Hundreds of schools were forced to close and travel has been severely hit.

Snow and ice continuing to cause disruption across Scotland

With just over four months until the Holyrood election, Scotland's political leaders have been making their pitch to voters.



The First Minister set out his target of winning an overall majority in May, which he claims should lead to a second independence referendum.



Lagging in the polls, Labour warned not to underestimate the party's chances, while the Conservatives promised to tackle the cost of living crisis.

Political Correspondent

Ewan Petrie

Voters will head to the polls in just over four months.

Party leaders make pitch to voters ahead of Holyrood elections

Business owners in Glasgow's East End say they strongly oppose any plans to introduce parking permits.



It would mean local car owners in Dennistoun paying a couple of hundred pounds a year to park and businesses paying a thousand pounds a year.

Rahim Cham

It would mean businesses in Dennistoun paying a thousand pounds a year to park.

Business owners strongly oppose parking permits plan

A collection of the work of renowned artist Joseph Mallord William Turner has gone on display at the National Galleries of Scotland.



The 38 watercolours have only ever been displayed during January, to brighten up these dark days for visitors.

Vanessa Kennedy

The 38 paintings have only ever been displayed during January.

Turner watercolours go on display at the National Galleries

The First Minister is warning us to only go to Accident and Emergency if it's a "genuine emergency", as demand on services is expected to surge over the festive period.



The head of Scotland's ambulance service has told STV News that system-wide pressures, including lengthy handover times at hospitals, are slowing services down - but the worst of the flu crisis is over.

Political Reporter

Laura Alderman

The worst of the flu crisis is over.

A&E warning as demand expected to surge over festive period

Today is one of the busiest days for food shopping in the run-up to Christmas.



But the price of some items, like beef, butter and chocolate, has soared this year.



Charities and businesses say they're seeing a change in what people are buying as a result.



They're now trying to switch people's habits to make sure everyone can eat better for less.

Finlay Jack

The price of some items, like beef, butter and chocolate have soared this year.

Consumer festive food shopping habits changing, says industry

The finishing touches are being applied to a piece of history that has been brought back to life on the banks of Loch Ness.



A house twice ravaged by fire and previously owned by both the famous and infamous will soon be opening its doors to the public.



STV News has been to Boleskine House for a sneak preview.

Iain Ramage

STV News has been to Boleskine House for a sneak preview.

House formerly owned by occult leader restored after fires

The health secretary has told STV News he's confident an agreement can be reached with resident doctors to prevent a planned strike over pay in January.



Neil Gray says there are areas for compromise, but any deal must be fair to all NHS staff.



Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, say talks held this morning were "candid and constructive," and will continue over the Christmas period.

Health secretary says there are areas for compromise, but any deal must be fair to all NHS staff.

Neil Gray hopeful agreement can be reached to stop doctor’s strike

A patient who was harmed by a disgraced Dundee neurosurgeon has lodged a complaint with the police after NHS Tayside destroyed key evidence required for a public inquiry.



Jules Rose was the last patient that Sam Eljamel operated on in Scotland, before he was suspended in 2013.



Despite a "do not destroy" notice being issued by the chair of the public inquiry last year, 40 theatre log books were shredded during the summer.

Lynne Rankin

Jules Rose was the last patient that Sam Eljamel operated on in Scotland.

Patient harmed by disgraced surgeon lodges police complaint

Charities in the North East say they're facing unprecedented demand for support from those facing hardship this Christmas.



With many families struggling to make ends meet, the added pressure of the festive season is proving difficult to bear.

Oliver Wright

The added pressure of the festive season is proving difficult to bear for families.

Charities facing ‘unprecedented’ demand this Christmas

Native red squirrels are making a comeback across Tayside after a long-running reintroduction plan. 



It's seen as a vital area for preventing the spread of the invasive greys into northern Scotland.



Thanks to years of work by conservationists and help from the public - reds are reclaiming territory once lost - returning to woodlands.

Saul Sievwright

The range of red squirrels in the Highlands has increased by more than 25% in a decade.

Red squirrel revival following decade-long conservation  project

"Don't give up" - that's the message from home owners who are finally free of loans they were signed up to under a scrapped Green Deal scheme.After a 12 year fight, several former HELMS customers have had refunds and solar panel contracts cancelled. The company that took on the loans say historic complaints are being processed on a case-by-case basis. 



Those still waiting want clarity and a fair resolution.

Customers who signed up for a scrapped Green Deal scheme have won a victory. 

Green Deal homeowners freed from solar panel contracts

A “heroic” bus driver has helped safely deliver a baby on board after a journey to a Glasgow hospital took a dramatic turn.



The incident unfolded after a couple boarded the 23 bus at Nelson Street, having purchased tickets to travel to hospital on Saturday November 29.



Within moments, bus driver Pummy heard concerning noises from the rear of the vehicle and stopped immediately to investigate. She found the woman in significant pain and quickly realised the situation had reached a critical point.



Paramedics later transported the family to hospital, where both mother and child were confirmed to be in good health.

Bus driver Pummy helped deliver the baby on board the bus before paramedics arrived. 

Baby born on bus after ‘heroic’ driver acts swiftly in emergency delivery

The second ferry being built at Ferguson Marine, the MV Glen Rosa, has been delayed again.While docked at the yard in Port Glasgow, faults were identified in the vessel, specifically corrosion in its stern tubes and deterioration of the hull coating. 



The Scottish Government-owned yard announced the vessel, which is already seven years late, will now be delivered late next year. The estimated cost of the vessel has increased to £185m

The overall cost of the much-delayed vessel is expected to be around £185.

Glen Rosa ferry delivery pushed back by another six months

For residents in care homes Christmas can sometimes be a lonely time of year. 



For those living in Erskine care home in Gilmerton, they've been celebrating the festivities with their families and members of staff with a special early party.

An early festive party help spread festive cheer for 

Special Christmas party brings festive cheer to Erskine residents

The parents of a teenager who took his own life after being blackmailed online say they have nothing to lose, as they launch legal action against the world's biggest social media company, Meta.



Murray Dowey from Dunblane was 16 when he became a victim of sextortion online.



His parents say they want to shame the trillion dollar company into providing better protection for young people on their platforms.



It's thought to be the first case of its kind in the UK.

Murray Dowey was 16 when he became a victim of sextortion online.

Parents to sue Meta after son took own life following online blackmail

A Scottish woman who underwent IVF treatment with donor sperm from Denmark says she's "lost all faith in the system," after it emerged a different Danish donor carrying a cancer-causing gene fathered almost 200 children.



Fiona Wark from Kinross is not affected by the scandal, but says it's created widespread fear and mistrust of Europe's fertility sector, which is worth €45bn a year.



Experts here say more Scottish donors are desperately needed to meet demand.

Experts say more Scottish donors are desperately needed to meet demand.

‘I’ve lost all faith in the sperm donor system, it needs to change’

STV News at Six

News

Current Affairs

STV News at Six from Dundee and Tayside. 

STV News - Dundee

It'll Be Alright on the Night

Tom Allen celebrates funny cock-ups from the world of entertainment.

Tom Allen celebrates funny cock-ups from the world of entertainment featuring Idris Elba, Paul Rudd, Ant and Dec, Susanna Reid, Alan Carr and many more of our favourite stars.

The Assembly

Celebrities face their most honest, funny, chaotic - and heart-warming - interview yet.

This episode features unseen questions from The Assembly's grillings of David Tennant, Gary Lineker, Danny Dyer and Jade alongside more revelations from the interviewed stars.

The Assembly: Unseen

A Salvation Army worker responsible for refugees has been sacked after he said they should be sent back "on a boat".