08/08/2011 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news: An

investigation is underway into claims a soldier sliced fingers off

dead Taliban fighters to keep as souvenirs.

Around 50 houses and a nursing home are evacuated in Aberdeenshire as

locals brace themselves for floods. We meet the woman forced from her

home by an invasion of more than 1000 bats. She discovered them

after taking a shower. Alison Murray says she feels powerless to

get rid of them. I felt something move under the towel and sob that's

head crawling out. Also coming up tonight: United we

stand, Peter Houston praises the desire of the Scotland squad ahead

An investigation is underway into claims a Scottish soldier sliced

fingers off dead Taliban fighters to keep as souvenirs. The

allegations relate to a soldier from the Argyll and Sutherland

Highlanders who was serving in Afghanistan.

On patrol in Helmand Province, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

spent their recent tour instructing the Afghan police and army. They

came home in April. Gaining the confidence of the local population

is the prize, but allegations that a soldier cut off the fingers off

dead Pat -- Taleban fighters as a trophy will rock the army's

reputation. It is a shocking claim for those who have served in that

forces. Taking it body parts is a real no-no. Scots soldiers are the

same as the rest of us. They do not like that sort of thing. If you

make every effort to respect their enemy as you would you selves.

Squaddies serving have to face the most horrific scenes of death and

destruction. Post traumatic stress disorder is a psychological battle

wound many have to bear. For those who have gone through those dark

times and now help others, it could be a reason to explain the unusual

behaviour. Abnormal situations, especially those involving trauma,

do change people's perception of what is right and wrong. It is

particular to individuals and does not occur to everybody. What we

could sit -- considered to be abhorrent can sometimes, on the

battlefield, not appear the same way. Officers from the special

investigations branch of the Royal Military Police are carrying out

their inquiry at these barracks in Canterbury. The British armed

forces Federation said all the facts still have to be established,

but allegations are totally out of kilter with the ethos of a Scottish

soldier. Stirling Castle is a traditional home of the Argyll and

Sutherland Highlanders. It hosts their museum. We do not know when

this investigation will come to an end but we do know that if this

soldier in question is convicted as a court martial, he could be sent

to a military correction centre. After that he could be debated

ought -- demoted or dismissed from the service. If

Hundreds of people and the inhabitants of a nursing home in

the Aberdeenshire town of Huntly have been evacuated amid fears a

local river is about to burst its banks. A rest centre has been set

up for residents affected. Flood watches are also in place around

Turriff, Kintore, Fochabers and Spey Bay.

This river he continues to grow as the rain continues in Aberdeen. The

council decided it was time to evacuate. Elderly residents at a

care home are moved as a precaution. They were joined by householders in

the nearby area. We just do not know when we will be back, I had to

pack stuff for the kids. We do not know what will happen. We will have

to wait to hear. Hopefully it will not come to what everybody is

thinking it might. Is it your choice whether to stay or go?

think so. I think some people will stay, they stayed the last time.

Having the two kids, I think it would be silly to stay, in case it

does happen. Around 50 properties were thought to be at risk, homes

were devastated by the flooding in 2009. We hope they will not get

tested but we install this precaution in these homes. We are

trying to prevent this happening again. It is a precaution still

further flood alleviation are in place. A rest centre has now been

set up for all those affected. It is not yet clear when people will

be allowed to return home. Amanda is outside those homes. What is the

latest? The rain has eased somewhat but there have been some

significant imposed throughout the day. As we speak an inspection is

on going to assess the current situation. For the moment, flood

warning -- flood warning does remain in place. This threat will

not be lifted. Certainly not until later on tonight. The householders

you can only hope there is no repeat of the flooding of 2009

which devastated some of these properties. If the banks do break

that the protective measures, such as sandbags, will stand up to the

task. Thank you. Seven Norwegian sailors have been

rescued from a liferaft in the North Sea 50 miles east of Shetland.

It was after their boat, a Viking style wooden sailing boat, ran into

difficulty this afternoon. The Shetland coastguard rescue

helicopter was scrambled after the distress beacon was activated.

You are watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC. Still to come before

7pm: It is murder on the dancefloor, how the Fringe is keeping people

dancing for hours on end. In sport, the players may be buying

into his way of thinking but Craig Levein could be without another key

member of his squad as Scotland prepares to face Denmark.

And with the World Cup just around the corner, Scotland's rugby

players may have left it late against Ireland but preparation is

Violence and disorder at football matches marred last season's SPL,

leading to meetings between clubs, the Government and the police. But

now one senior officer says that instead of more police at matches,

some games could be played without any presence at all, in or outside

the ground. Colin Wight followed the police operation at yesterday's

match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie.

Pittodrie, at 12 or 3:00pm kick-off and the fans are arriving. Just

because there is a football match does not mean the world has to stop.

Police had been preparing for the big game. They are looking for

potential troublemakers in the pubs. They are also at the railway

station. We are looking for that kind of people that associate

themselves with the football club. We call them risks supporters and

they are hell-bent on causing disorder. For the first time at

Pittodrie, officers from the Football co-ordination unit. They

were formed last season. The pick out potential troublemakers.

Grampian Police also have an unacceptable behaviour team. We're

looking at a hate crime, be it homophobic, race crime, any kind of

hate crimes. A flare was the only significant problem apart from one

sectarian unrest. Officers now believe some games can be police

free. What I am being told is that we want our officers out on the

streets. We do not necessarily need them at the football ground. We

will be sensible and pragmatic about that. We will rest assess

each match. Yes, we do not want to see all the police at the foot of.

There were no police officers at the ground at the game against St

Mirren. There are now professional stewards, it makes it a lot easier

for the club to say to the police that he can stand back a bit.

fans are not so sure. I have seen a situation where there would be an

atmosphere in which you could have no policing. We need police.

can never have games without police, but if they treat you like a human

being there might be the possibility of reducing them.

Aberdeen fans might disagree after yesterday's defeat, but for the

police at Pittodrie, this is a good start to the season.

Thousands of council workers in the West of Scotland could be effected

by a radical plan to change the way they work. Seven councils in the

area are considering setting up a joint agency to handle things like

their payroll and IT. It could save them millions, but would mean fewer

staff. Our Local Government Correspondent is with us. What is

being proposed? This is about the bulk of councils in the Strathclyde

region, killing a lot of their back office functions, things they all

have to do but which do not affect the public directly. You mentioned

payroll and IT, there are also talking about their finance

departments, revenue and benefits and a human resources. The plan is

to create one agency that would carry out all these tasks for all

seven councils. The hope is that it would save money and help to

minimise cuts in services. The trade union Unison is concerned and

says the plan has huge risks for what it says would be modest

savings. Even these savings would be built on strong. Do we know what

sort off savings they are expected to make out how many jobs may be

affected? As is often the case, it would cost more money at first but

could save the council's �30 million every year after five years.

In any organisation, staffing is one of the biggest costs. If all

seven councils to go ahead with his plan, as many as 3,400 staff would

be affected. The business plan suggests that up to a quarter of

them would go when the first five years, primarily through voluntary

redundancies. That could be 850 jobs. The council will then decide

whether to proceed with this plan in the coming weeks.

Some of the other stories across Scotland this Monday: the chairman

of NHS Grampian has stood down from the post while an investigation

takes place into claims of gross misconduct in a separate role he

holds with the Food Standards Agency. Dr David Cameron has been

suspended from the FSA while the allegations are probed.

Scottish Labour MP Thomas Dougherty is calling for an investigation

into claims the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander,

intervened in the defence review to save jobs near his constituency.

The move follows allegations by Sir Menzies Campbell that fellow

Liberal Democrat, Mr Alexander, lobbied for the retention of RAF

Lossiemouth in Moray over RAF Leuchars in Fife.

There has been a 67% rise in agricultural crime in a past two

years, according to an insurance company. The insurance company put

the cost of theft to Scottish farming in 2010 at nearly �1.5

million. The said tools, one bikes and heating oil and diesel are the

Exercise could be a wanderer drop in the fight against cancer. The

charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, is encouraging patients to become a

more active to reduce the likelihood of cancer recurring. It

says an increase in exercise can reduce the chances of breast, bowel,

and prostate cancer by between 30 Deadlines are suggest that we

should all do two hours of exercise per week. That includes cancer

patients, according to the charity, Macmillan Cancer Trust. Here in

Paisley, medical staff encourage patients are to attend this

exercise class. It is good fun and great support.

Exercise is a great thing to help get over the cancer treatment.

It is the last thing on your mind and it definitely helps. It should

be part of the treatment package. Everybody is friendly.

Do you find it difficult? Or, yes!

All patients benefit from exercise but too often they are told to take

it easy when in fact exercise can help the recovery.

To see people getting fitter, stronger, their confidence

returning, it is very rewarding. From today onwards, Jo Brand will

feature in adverts to help get the message across. The adverts will

also help remind people that exercise can reduce the chances of

The woman is says that she has been forced out of her dream home

because 1,000 bats have invaded her roof. Anybody who harms a bat faces

a hefty fine or jail. But Alison Murray believes the distractions

have gone too far as there is very little she can do to get rid of her

unwelcome guests. In the summer these bats set up maternity roosts.

That is when the trouble can start. Alison Murray thought she had found

her dream home but it soon became the stuff of nightmares.

After having a shower I went to get the towel to dry myself. I walked

through to the bedroom and just as I was about to put my clothes on I

felt something move under the towel. I looked in the mirror and saw a

bat crawling out from underneath my towel.

She had also encountered them in her living room and kitchen and

began blocking off what ever holes she could and her house. Under

international law we are not allowed to disrupt the bats in the

roof. But experts counted 500 here in a just one night. And that did

not include the young. These pictures were taken from a house

near by. It is an ideal environment. Alison now has a licence to block

the gaps in the roof but she will have to wait until the bat so leave

which could be autumn. It is ridiculous. They have more

rights than I do. They are a wild animal.

Unfortunately the fact is that if you deal with them once they are

there and they have dependent young, that is a very difficult situation

for them. Very different from preventing them from getting there

in the first place. Alison has now developed a phobia

and has been forced to move and with her parents.

I do not think I will never be comfortable in this flat again

because I am constantly looking over my shoulder and paranoid about

shadows. Cries of horror from my esteemed

colleague. My goodness, I did not like that at

all! Peter Houston claims that there Scotland players are buying

into the ethos of Craig Levein. He says it indicates their desire to

be involved. But Scotland could yet be denied one of the key players

they feel embodies this new spirit. Scotland training sessions are

generally light hearted a fails regardless of who is in charge. But

what sets this squad apart is that there have only been two

withdrawals. That is rare for a friendly.

Chris took a start on the instep of his foot but he turned up today and

said that he wants to give his all. That tells you a lot about how much

they have have bought into the unity crake is developing.

But not everybody is delighted by Chris Coleman's involvement.

Rested him. He will -- we would much prefer to have arrested him

for a friendly. -- Kris Commons.

In football you have to go out and prove things when the games, along

and we have to be ready to get the wind. -- when the Games come along.

Kenny Miller will likely continue as captain.

Dion Dublin says that Emilio Izaguirre they will have to take

time to recover physically and emotionally from that the injury he

sustained at the weekend. Dublin was in Glasgow to help publicise a

charity game between his former clubs, Celtic and Manchester United.

He suffered a broken leg and broken neck during his own career.

It took me a good four or five days with my family to start getting

over it. It is the very heart. With the Rugby World Cup Around the

corner Scotland are taking nothing for granted. After defeating

Ireland at the weekend Geoff Cross is remaining focused in order to

Secure has seat on the plane. The front row as not for the faint of

heart. On Saturday it was a member of the front row union who was man

of the match verses Ireland. Geoff Cross made has debut in 2009 and

loves his job. You have a lot of force and people

trying to twist you out of position. You have to maintain your head and

neck position. But I like it! It was a strong performance capped

off by this late try. But it was the spit -- the less spectacular

work of Geoff which laid the groundwork.

We were up against good experienced players. Strongmen. We did very

well in the scrum. Geoff got himself on the ball and made good

tackles. He deserved his man of the match.

That should mean a seat on the plane to New Zealand for the World

Cup. That has been to the fore of my

mind. I have not challenged for previous World Cups. Now I am in

with a chance and it is important that I work hard and get the

coaches good reason to pick me. This was his debut. His passion

remains the same. He will not thank us for that shot.

That is all the sport. The Edinburgh Fringe is famous for

audience participation but one show is taking it to a new level. Dance

Marathon encourages the audience to dance throughout the four hour show.

Inspired by the dance competitions of the 1930s where weary couples

kept dancing four days to win a cash prize, Dance Marathon takes

insurance to new levels. You cannot simply sit back and watch. As soon

as you appear you are given your own number and than-expected to

start dancing. As soon as you stop, you are out. -- I'll have then

The point in the 1930s was that you must keep moving and if you stop

you got eliminated and did not win any money.

It is not money which is the object here. It is part money -- part

entertainment, part social experiment. But many have

discovered the competitive streak once on the dance floor.

Everybody loves to dance deep down. That is the beauty of the show.

Once you get it out of the head and into the body, something else

happens, takes over. That is what is so exciting.

There has been no shortage of dancer's willing to take up the

challenge since the show opened. Some are better than others at

leaving the dancefloor however! You have been eliminated.

That's not fair! That's not fair!

And now the weather. The forecast looks like autumn rather than

August but let's not give up on the summer just yet. A wet weekend

across the north-east, south-east, and the Borders. But tonight should

be dry if reasonably cloudy. Some insurers also still on the north

coast but it will be dry for most of the mainland with a northerly

breeze. -- some showers per cyst on the north coast. One to tomorrow,

the best day of the week. Around 4:00pm, certainly in the south,

temperatures up to 18 Celsius. Further north However and although

it remains dry with some sunshine the bees will peck temperatures

back. 15 Celsius at best. -- the breeze. Cast your rise towards the

Atlantic and you can see waiting in the wings, rain. That is associated

with an A rare of low pressure which will are right overnight

Tuesday and to Wednesday. -- Elia of low pressure. Temperatures, at

best, 16 Celsius. This low pressure feeds its way and. Looking at the

detail for Thursday, we can see the rain will still be with us. But it

will be more showery by nature. Still, wet and soggy. Tomorrow will

be by far the best day of the week. be by far the best day of the week.

Though that is not saying much. A summary of the top stories: live

pictures from London where more violence has broken out. In Hackney,

police are being attacked by stones and missiles. Vehicles are a blaze.

Extra police have been deployed in the capital to attempt to quell the

trouble which began in Tottenham on Saturday. An investigation is

underway into claims A Scottish soldier sliced off the fingers of a

dead Taliban fighter to keep as souvenirs. Hundreds of people at

and the inhabitants of a nursing home in Huntly have been evacuated