Frightening incidents right on our doorsteps

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the East Kilbride News.

Two frightening stories on our front page this week reflect on incidents which happened in East Kilbride and Strathaven.

Greenhills mum-of-one Ruth MacMillan couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw a fire at the front of her home when she got up in the early hours of the morning.

Her quick reactions prevented the situation, caused by firebugs, from getting out of control but her street was still evacuated.

She tells her story on page 7 of today’s paper, warning of the potential tragic consequences given the fire took hold close to a gas pipe at the property.

Not that the people responsible for this act gave consideration as to the seriousness of their actions.

What was their motive? Who knows? What we do know is this is completely unacceptable behaviour which could have had a very different outcome.

Then on Monday morning, two armed men held up the post office within a convenience store in Strathaven and escaped with a five-figure sum of cash.

There was a huge police presence in the town which will have both shocked and reassured locals. You can read more about this incident on page 6.

For those of us who visit Strathaven, we are well aware of what a charming town it is, particularly with its countryside location. Incidents of this nature are, thankfully, rare.

But what happened on Monday shows that nowhere is crime free. Get in touch with police if you have information which could help their enquiries.

On a happier note, we have four pages of ‘First Day At School’ pictures. Thanks to everyone who submitted images. Colin Paterson