29/12/2015 Reporting Scotland

Now, on BBC One, it's time for the news where you are.

The organisers of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations say

the build-up to this year's event has been challenging,

but they insist the tens on thousands of partygoers will be

The recent terror attacks in Paris highlighted security concerns,

but the man in charge of policing the event say people should be

Fireworks to welcome the new year, the centrepiece of Edinburgh's

hogmanay celebrations. This afternoon, high up on the castle,

two-and-a-half town tonnes of explosives are being prepared for

this year's five minute display. The satisfaction for us comes at the end

of it. When the final fireworks have blown away you have this massive

roar from the street. It literally comes up and hits you. It's the most

amazing feeling. All those people down there are just having a

brilliant timed and they've loved what you've done. Down at street

level, many hands are needed to put together an event that in the space

of two decades has gone global. Watched in 80 countries, Scotland's

biggest Hogmanay event is a three-day festival. It's a big

project. Not just the street party with 70,000 people. There are

150,000 to 200,000 people in the city for the things we are putting

on. The build-up to this year's event has been set against a

challenging backdrop. The Forth Road Bridge was closed at a time when

many were making their plans for Hogmanay there is the ongoing

concern about security. In the wake of the Paris attacks, officers here

are offering firm reassurance. Obviously, in the context of what's

happened internationally over recent months my message to the public is a

clear one - be aware and vigilant, but don't be alarmed. I'm very

confident, in terms of Edinburgh's Hogmanay we have put in plans and

the contingency plans to ensure people can come here, have a

fantastic time and enjoy themselves safety. With forecasters predicting

relatively good conditions it seems they can can do so without worrying

too much about the weather. Amber "be prepared" weather warnings

have been issued by the Met Office It says Storm Frank will bring heavy

rain and high winds, which could have a serious

impact in some areas. We are being looking at rainfall of

over 100 mm in some parts of Dumfries and Galloway and parts of

western Tayside it could be quite bad. Everything is saturated. We had

a lot of rain in recent weeks. The rivers have full, down south it

doesn't take an awful lot of rain to cause problems. When we have as much

rain as we are expecting over the next 36-hours we could see

significant problems in parts of Scotland.

We'll have a full weather forecast at the end of this bulletin.

Police have started a murder investigation into the death of one

The body of 53-year-old Martin Hamilton, who was nicknamed

the Blackhill Butcher, was found in woodland

near West Calder on the 17th December.

A post-mortem examination has shown he suffered serious injuries,

which are believed to have led to his death.

Hamilton had a string of convictions for drug dealing and violence.

The mother of a premature baby, whose life was saved by a blood

transfusion, is encouraging people to make giving

Shawn Waugh's son Conan weighed under 2lbs when he was born,

When you are just 18 months old, even a reclining chair can make a

good slide. This toddler makes the most of every chance to play. Born

15 weeks premature and weighing just a pound and three quarters it wasn't

given he would survive to be the toddler he is now. At two-days old

he had the first of two blood transfusions. He had a massive

haemorrhage and he lost a lot of blood. They told us that we

haemorrhage and he lost a lot of have the blood transfusion to save

his life. It was touch and gchl had the blood transfusion it was like a

tonic. It was a different baby. the blood transfusion it was like a

Conan, his name picked because he was such a fighter, was the star

attraction at today's appeal for more blood donors. Donations usually

dip over the festive period but the more blood donors. Donations usually

number of donors year round is decreasing. An active donor is

anyone who donated in 12 months dropping from 5% to less than 4%.

anyone who donated in 12 months It's important to encourage new

donors, and younger donors to come forward, to replace the ageing donor

donors, and younger donors to come base. The message is, if you can

make time for a walk base. The message is, if you can

shops at this time of base. The message is, if you can

to make time to give blood as well. My wife had to give a lot of blood

when she had cancer. I have been a regular blood donor, it's a

religion. I come in four times a year. I thought I'm going into

Glasgow, might as well pop in, give blood, a cup of tea, back down the

road. The charity, Citizens Advice

Scotland, says it's been asked for help by increasing numbers

of people who've left the armed forces, but are finding it difficult

to cope in civilian life. Martin came out of the RAF three

years ago having served for 20 years. After having back and hip

problems, then a medical discharge, Martin had no idea what to do or

where his family would live. Obviously, a big part of the job is

that we get a married quarter to live in. Nice, safe haven for the

family I would have to give that up at some stage. It was very, very

worrying. Like I say, I've got my family to think of. You know, if I

had to sleep down the street in a tent on the corner of the road I

would do it. I don't expect my family to do that. While he waited

for pension arrangements to be sorted out he turned to the armed

services support service. He said the support was invaluable. They

make things that little bit easier. When you are feeling a bit, sort of,

you are walking in as a happy face. Sit down, we will try and sort this

out. That's as good as anything sometimes. This project has now been

running for five years it has helped with over 32,000 issues and

supported over 7,000 people. They could have problems with debt, they

could have problems with employment. We can help people claim the

benefits they are entitled to. Basically, people have a chaotic

lifestyle. They've built up many problems over the years. This can

lead to homelessness. It's a happy festive season for Martin and his

family this year. Kneel settled and most of all secure in a lovely home.

Let's get the latest weather forecast now with Gillian.

Thank you. It's about Storm Frank. Good evening to you. This deep area

of low pressure. It's track will take it north to Iceland tonight,

these trailing weather fronts and the strong winds associated with it

that will bring the stormy conditions for us tonight. The

winds, severe gale force gusts of 70mph around the coasts. Possibly

higher than that for the western isles. Rough seas, big waves,

coastal overtopping. On top of that heavy rainfall. We have a yellow be

aware warning covering most of the country. The rain will sweep

eastwards across the country. Most at risk south-west Scotland, western

borders, Argyll, Sterling and southern Aberdeenshire. The amber

warning areas, be prepared for some significant flooding. Anywhere

across the country you will see nasty conditions tonight

particularly when you factor in the winds. Tomorrow a windy start, wet

start, that system is on the move. The rain will pull away eastwards

during the morning. Most parts will see a dryer spell for the afternoon.

Heavy showers moving to the west later on. It starts out mild,

temperatures will fall away somewhat and will introduce a wintry flavour

to the showers by the end of the day. Gale force winds will ease to

the west through the afternoon. For Hogmanay lighter winds, brighter day

for eastern Scotland, spells of sunshine. Look at the temperatures,

a colder feel. A band of wintry showers pushing across the country

during the late afternoon and evening, most places drying up again

for the bells. That is the forecast. Graham Stewart will be

here with the late bulletin,