Talk of the Town: Wanderers hit right note with shoppers

SHOPPERS – well, some of them – at Sainsbury’s must have thought Christmas had come early last Sunday when players from rugby club Murrayfield Wanderers stripped off to raise more than £500 for the local branch of charity Riding for the Disabled.

The boys braved the nippy temperatures in only their shorts, singing Christmas carols to keep admirers entertained.

Or at least that’s why most of the women and men standing staring at them said they were there – to hear the carols. Obviously.

Cinders escapes by the skin of her teeth

THEY say every cat has nine lives – and this Edinburgh moggy has surely used up one.

Two-year-old Cinders was close to starvation when she was dumped in a wicker basket and left for dead next to the Water of Leith.

But incredibly, the resourceful tabby was found and reported to Lothian Cat Rescue after she bit and scratched her way to freedom.

“After we got her, she was scared of humans at first but she’s absolutely fine now – we’ll find a good home in no time,” said warden Nicola Zelent.

You might call it the purr-fect ending.

Advice not to be sniffed at

FROM cats to dogs – and it’s that time of year where pet charities warn that four-legged friends are not just for Christmas.

To make their point, the Dogs Trust has revealed some of the reasons given by owners handing back the unwanted gifts to its centre in West Lothian.

They included: “He keeps scaring the goldfish”, “he snores really loudly”, “he can’t do any tricks” and “my dog keeps passing wind”.

Game, set and match?

IN this column yesterday we told how Andy Murray had explained his love for Hibs in a Q&A session with computer gamers.

During the chat, the US Open champion revealed his desire to make a trip to Leith for the next derby on March 9.

Glossing over the fact he’s due to play a mandatory tournament in the States that week, Hibs have invited their famous fan to make a triumphant return – hopefully sparking scenes similar to the classic 2001 clash with AEK Athens, which Murray described as “amazing”.