Festive spirit alive and well

THE spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Kennoway despite vandals wrecking the village’s festive lights.

The culprits destroyed the community’s tree lights, leaving the centrepiece of the Yuletide display in darkness just days before the official switch-on.

But local businesses and residents were determined not to let anyone spoil Christmas and managed to raise about £1,000 in just two days to have the lights reinstated.

A number of businesses and organisations made donations of £100 and a collection bucket was in place at Millerfield Stores.

The illuminations were switched on as planned by local minister the Rev Allan Morton, with villagers turning out in the wind and rain to celebrate the occasion.

Bob McPhail, chairman of Kennoway Community Shed, said: “I’m so proud of everybody.

“The community support that these people have shown in two days was totally overwhelming and humbling.

“It kept us going because it was a big kick in the teeth for us all for that to happen.”

Fife Council had supplied the Christmas tree lights but was unable to meet the cost of replacing them.

Mr McPhail said the council arranged for a contractor to put up the replacement lights and he is confident enough has been raised to pay for the work.

He added: “With the Christmas tree j ust i n front of where everyone gathers for the switch-on, everyone would have been looking at a tree with no lights.”

WORKERS have been celebrating the fifth anniver- sary of Dundee’s British Heart Foundation shop opening in the Murraygate.

The volunteers, pictured – Laura McFarlane, Kishwar Ali, Tracy Perrie & Agnes Steinson – staged birthday celebrations for the occasion.

The charity shop has a bumper range of quality second-hand items and new goods.

A spokesman for BHF said: “We sell a wide range of products from clothing, shoes and accessories to books, music, toys and homewares.

“We also have greeting cards for all occasions,

A SOZZLED thug bit a police officer called out to remove him from his ex-partner’s flat.

Gareth Harford was repeatedly asked to leave the woman’s home on Forest Park Road after turning up under the influence.

Harford saw red when police tried to escort him out of the property and he had to be restrained by officers.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard the woman returned home to find Harford, of Earn Crescent, in an unfit state.

He refused to leave despite being asked to on multiple occasions. Prosecutor Carol Doherty said: “The accused continued to ignore her requests to leave.

This continued for about half an hour. “Police traced the accused within the living room but he stated that he would not leave and did not understand why the police were present.

“While the police were still speaking to the accused, he appeared to remove a cup from the cupboard.

“Police became concerned