A 10-year-old Fife girl died following a fire at a house in Thornton late last night.

The youngster was one of four people - two adults and two girls - rescued by firefighters from the house at Donald Crescent. The girl, her six-year-old sister, who is in a serious condition, and their father and grandmother were all taken to Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital.

Gun charge

EDINBURGH woman Jane Codona, 23, of Hailesland Gardens, was charged with an assault involving presenting a gun and with having an imitation firearm when she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday. She was remanded in custody for further inquiries.

Factory blaze

ABOUT 30 people were evacuated from the ATC Cosmetics factory in Invergordon, yesterday morning after a fire and explosion. No-one was injured.

Stab death

A WOMAN was found stabbed to death early yesterday in a flat in St Jude's, Bristol. Her children were in the flat. Police said a man was helping with inquiries.

Blaze murder

A MURDERED woman whose body was found ablaze at Burley Park railway station, Leeds, on Sunday, was identified yesterday as Ms Deborah Wood, 20, of Holbeck, Leeds.

Priest remanded

A CATHOLIC priest facing more than 20 sex abuse charges was accused yesterday of 44 further similar counts. The priest, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was further remanded on bail yesterday by an Irish District Court in Wexford.

Gas mystery

SAMPLES of a mysterious gas found at a building site in Ashgrove Road West, Aberdeen, earlier this month have been found on analysis not to contain any poison.

Man for court

DETECTIVES investigating the alleged rape of a 17-year-old Glenrothes girl on Saturday have arrested a man. Police said the man was expected to appear in court at Kirkcaldy today.

Jobs upgraded

FIFTY-ONE staff with Berwick Borough Council are to have their posts upgraded as a result of a jobs evaluation study.

Crash victim

THE driver killed in a crash near Kelso when his car was in collision with a lorry was named yesterday as Mr Andrew Yule, 58, of Orchard Park, Kelso.