Other News In Brief

Wigan Forward Appears In Court

Premier League striker Marlon King has appeared in court today over allegations he groped and punched a woman at a London nightclub. The Wigan Athletic player, of Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, is said to have attacked the 20-year-old at the West End's Soho Revue bar in December. He is accused of assault and the sexual offence of "touching". He is due to stand trial on 26 October.

Fears For Missing Angler

The search for a man feared missing in East Lothian, is continuing. Fears for the safety of a man - described as 60 and from Edinburgh - were raised after a mobile phone and clothes were found at Dunbar harbour. Forth Coastguard also reported a fishing rod was found in the water. Police said the man had failed to come home from fishing and had failed to return. Two lifeboats were launched and an RAF helicopter was scrambled after the alarm was raised on Wednesday evening; the hunt was suspended overnight.

Man Injured And Dog Killed In Crash

A man was seriously injured and one of the dogs he was walking was killed when they were hit by a vehicle which failed to stop in County Durham. The man, in his late 40s, was found by a cyclist near the Cemex cement works behind Thornley Crossing Industrial Estate, Shotton, on Wednesday morning. One of the Dalmatians the man, from Shotton Colliery, was walking died. Durham Police said a black vehicle, possibly a 4x4, was involved and they are appealing for witnesses. The man was taken to North Tees Hospital with fractured ribs, a punctured lung and a cut to the head. His condition was described as serious but stable.

Man Charged Over Weapon Reports

One man has been charged and another is being questioned after armed police were called to reports of a man with a gun in Bedfordshire. The incident happened at Alton Gardens in Luton at 1.27pm on Wednesday. A 25-year-old man from Bedford has been charged with possession of firearms with intent to cause fear of violence, and is due before Luton magistrates. Meanwhile, a 31-year-old man, who was arrested close to the scene, is still being questioned by police. A firearm together and a quantity of cash and a substance, which is thought to be cocaine, was recoverd by police A 31-year-old woman has been released on police bail pending forensic analysis of the drugs recovered.

Scarborough Crowned Europe's Most Enterprising Place

The reigning champion of the Enterprising Britain competition, Scarborough, is celebrating again after being named the most enterprising place in Europe at this year's European Enterprise Awards. Run by the European Commission, the Awards saw Scarborough take the Grand Jury Prize, making it the overall winner, and in the jury's view, the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative in Europe. The seaside town was up against the best of European enterprise, including Finland's capital city, Helsinki; Spain's second biggest port, Valencia; and Liege in Belgium, known for its beer, chocolate and water exports. Despite its population of just 50,000 - tiny in comparison to its competitors - Scarborough's work to encourage people to start-up and grow businesses and create jobs saw it awarded the top prize at a gala dinner in Prague's Zofin Palace on Wednesday evening.

(JM/BMcc)