VILLAGERS in Gretna have become involved in a row over plans by the Roman Catholic Church to demolish a presbytery and build 18 houses.

More than 70 people have signed a petition opposing the move by the diocese claiming it will lead to road traffic dangers for the elderly and the young, ruin the environment and lower the tone of the neighbourhood.

Boxer arrested

Former world super-middleweight boxing champion Nigel Benn was arrested and questioned by police over an alleged attempt to pervert the course of justice. Metropolitan Police officers arrested the 33-year-old fighter's at his home home in Beckenham, Kent, on Friday. Benn is on #50,000 bail after being charged with an assault on ticket agent Ray Sullivan.

Walker released

AN Edinburgh hillwalker has been released from Belford Hospital in Fort William after she injured her leg on Corrour Estate in Lochaber on Saturday. Ms Muriel Matheson, 60, of Spylawbank Road, Edinburgh was located by 10 members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and airlifted to hospital.

Canaries stolen

Thieves have stolen 25 show canaries worth more than #500 which were hatching eggs and feeding young birds. Police in Dumfries are appealing for help in tracing the raiders who got into the aviary at Heathhall, Dumfries.

Father arrested

THE father of a three-year-old girl who was abducted and taken to Holland has been arrested by British police. Mr Ahmed Darwich and a woman voluntarily surrendered themselves to officers and were in custody yesterday in central London. His daughter Marwa Darwich was traced to Amsterdam after being abducted from her foster parents in Salisbury Street, Marylebone on Friday.

Standby plane

A HOLIDAY airline is to have a standby plane for the first time this summer to try to reduce delays on its charter flights from Manchester Airport. Last year, over 20% of Airtours International holiday flights were more than an hour late.

Lottery numbers

Six ticketholders shared the #7.9m Saturday night National Lottery jackpot. The winning numbers were 10, 6, 14, 25, 27, 38, and the bonus number was 5.