WEEK IN NUMBERS

108%

The percentage by which the number of EU nationals applying for British citizenship has risen. Official statistics show the figure has almost doubled as thousands of Europeans sought naturalisation following the Brexit vote.

71

The age of awardwinning author Philip Pullman who has just won the Waterstones book of the year prize. On hearing his book La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One, a prequel to his children series His Dark Materials, he said it was like having “cream as well as apple pie.”

108

The age at which one of Scotland’s oldest residents and Fife’s oldest Pars fan has passed away.

James Crombie, of Dunfermline, died following a short illness on November 24. James credited “a wee bit of brandy” for his longevity, as well as daily exercise and his favourite mince pies.

1,344

The number of signatures a petition launched by Angus woman Dr Ellie Stirling has attracted. Her campaign to neuter all domestic cats, and protect their wild cousins, will be discussed in the Scottish Parliament next week.

15

The number of years a round-the-world cyclist’s epic adventure has lasted. The cycle came to an abrupt end, however, when Adelino Ferreira, 58, was locked up on the day he arrived in Scotland until December 20 after a run-in with police, behaving in a threatening and abusive manner in Perth.