An Edinburgh man charged with maliciously damaging 11 cars in the Gyle shopping centre carpark with a hammer on Thursday appeared in court yesterday. Mr Malcolm Duce, 21, of Craigleith Road, Edinburgh, who is alleged to have caused #5900 damage, made no plea to the charge.

Defence agent Mr Murray Robertson asked Edinburgh Sheriff Court to continue the case without plea for a week for a psychiatric assessment. Sheriff Andrew Bell deferred the case until April 18 and remanded Duce in custody.

Spring skiing

Only two of Scotland's five ski centres will be open for sport over the last weekend of the season. Facilities on Cairngorm mountain, near Aviemore, and Glencoe, at the White Corries, will be operating this weekend. Glencoe has three complete runs open and at Cairngorm, Ptarmigan and Coire-na-ciste runs are open with a ''reasonable cover'' of spring snow.

Yacht bid fails

ANY hope of the redundant Royal Yacht retiring to her birthplace at Clydebank has been scuppered. West Dunbartonshire councillors have agreed to withdraw the offer made to the Government two years ago to berth the Britannia at the town, following a consultants report which warned that even allowing for the income generated from tours, conference facilities, accommodation, restaurant and bars, there would remain an annual funding deficit of #1.3m to #1.5m.

Clyde site plan

A FORMER Clyde oil terminal could become a prize development site. The old Esso depot at Bowling in Dunbartonshire is being examined by industry experts to determine if it could be converted into a jobs-winning location. Talks are to take place between West Dunbartonshire Council and the owners of the terminal.

Secure schools

SCHOOLS in West Dunbartonshire are to benefit from #268,000 of additional security measures this year. Under the terms of the Scottish Office scheme, West Dunbartonshire Council will be able to claim back 75% of the money spent on security improvements.

Problem drinkers

POLICE in Gretna are targeting teenage drinkers who are causing problems in the town. It follows complaints from community councillors who say some are travelling from Annan and Eastriggs for drinking sessions. Elderly residents say they have been frightened, and smashed bottles have been causing problems in the railway station, primary school and Central Avenue areas.