In the wake of the trial verdict, Dale Bennett’s parents have called on greater efforts to tackle knife crime.

The Midlothian couple were speaking shortly after seeing their son’s killer convicted of murder. Dale, from Mayfield, died after being stabbed in a Gorebridge street on February 12 last year.

Brian McHale (21), originally from Gorebridge, was found guilty of the 17-year-old’s murder last week at the conclusion of an eight-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. He is due to be sentenced next month.

Outside the court, a statement was read on behalf of Dale’s parents, Garry and Michelle. In it, they appealed to the public and agencies to work together to help eradicate knife crime.

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Bonnyrigg is to become home to Europe’s most advanced glass recycling infrastructure following an announcement by waste firm Viridor.

The £6million ‘next generation’ recycling infrastructure will be one of only three across the globe, with similar facilities being developed in France and Australia.

Viridor, part of the FTSE 250 Pennon Group, supports 96 per cent of Scottish local authorities, public sector organisations; businesses such as RBS, Scottish Power and Coca Cola Enterprises and many thousands of small and medium enterprises.

The company has invested some £0.5billion in green infrastructure to translate Scottish zero waste policy into practice.

The company operates an existing £3m, 100,000 tonne per annum glass recycling facility at Bonnyrigg – obtained through the acquisition of MacGlass in 2003.

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Midlothian secondary pupils can learn how to create their own comics on a new evening course.

Called “Comic Life”, the course has been organised by Midlothian Council’s Community Learning and Development team.

It will take place at Newbattle Community Learning Centre on Tuesdays from 6.30–8.30pm. The cost is just £1 for a two-hour session and pupils from S1 upwards are welcome. Places are limited.

Participants will be taught how to use a digital camera to photograph a subject of their choice.

They will then learn how to transfer the photographs into a special computer programme which will let them create their own comic and tell a story using their photos along with speech bubbles and other design tools.

The course is suitable both for beginners and for those with more advanced photography and computer skills who are keen to learn something new.

Councillor Peter Boyes, the council’s cabinet member responsible for community learning, said: “This course is a fun way for young people to brush up on their digital photography and computer skills. It is part of our ongoing commitment to equipping our young people with the practical skills they’ll need to succeed in the workplace.”

If you would like to sign up for the course, contact Sharon on 0131- 271 3434 or email Sharon.dalgleish@midlothian.gov.uk

Assurances have been given that public safety is paramount when housing registered sex offenders in the community.

Leading players in Midlothian’s Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel (MAPPP) have spoken out following two protests – in Dalkeith and Loanhead – following the release of rapist Robert Greens.

Greens – dubbed the Da Vinci Code rapist – was released from prison last month after serving five years for the rape of a Dutch teenager in Roslin Glen in 2005.

He is subject to a series of restrictions, including being accompanied by police and social workers at all time, being subject to a curfew and banned from using the internet. He is not to approach children or women.

MAPPPs are a statutory body found in every local authority area with the responsibility of managing sex offenders from their release from prison or after being dealt with in the courts.

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TRIBUTES are being paid to a popular Midlothian teenager who has died from germ cell cancer.

Brandon Hall (19), passed away in hospital on Saturday night after a 20-month struggle with the disease.

Brought up in Newtongrange, his death has shocked the community and friends have gone to his Facebook page to leave messages of condolence and pay tribute.

Brandon’s parents, Catherine and Boyd, and brother Calum (22) are finding it difficult to come to terms with their loss.

His father said: “I can’t quite realise it now. Brandon was a really good lad, quiet, but always fun to be around.”

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loanhead: The Kabin is trying to recruit volunteers to drive its minibus.

The community hub is trying to establish a regular Tuesday pick-up and drop-off for the seniors’ group, as well as other ad hoc runs.

The centre would also like to hear from beauty therapists looking to hire space for treatments such as massage, reiki and reflexology. There is a purpose-build room within the Kabin.

For further details, contact The Kabin, adjacent to Loanhead Community Learning Centre, on 0131 440 2541.

Scottish Water has announced that household water charges will remain frozen from April 1.

This means water charges will have remained at the same level for four years. The average household charge will stay at £324.

A Scottish Water spokesman said: “Water charges help pay for the investment which is needed to ensure we continue to deliver clearer, fresher drinking water at its highest quality, protect the environment and continue to improve service to our customers.

“The fact that charges are being kept at the same level for the fourth year running is a tribute to the efforts of management and everyone who works at Scottish Water in creating an even more efficient Scottish Water.”

The utility company is nearing the final stages of the multi-million pound project to build a new water treatment works at Glencorse to supply Edinburgh and parts of Midlothian with fresh, clean drinking water.

The Scottish Water spokesman added that the average household bill in Scotland was one of the lowest in Britain.

The bill freeze has been welcomed by Scottish Infrastructure and Capital Investment Secretary Alex Neil MSP, who said: “Scottish Water is performing well as a public sector organisation.

“Its decision to freeze charges represents excellent news for customers at a time when households across Scotland are confronted by an increased cost of living.”

A POLICE campaign to highlight crime prevention in Midlothian communities has been launched.

Lothian and Borders police officers will be hosting roadshows in Mid and East Lothian in the coming weeks where they will offer crime prevention advice.

There will be crime prevention surveys and giving demonstrations for property marking kits, which are available to the public for a small fee.

There are a number of different ways to ensure that property that has been lost or stolen is identifiable.

The National Mobile and Property Register is an online property system for the UK law enforcement agencies, which allows us to search the database for registered owners when a phone is reported lost or stolen.

To help the police identify stolen property, register at www.immobalise.com – and the website gives further information on what can be registered and how to do it.

You can also register bikes at www.bikeregister.com, another nationally-recognised website used to trace the owner of lost and stolen bicycles.

As part of the campaign, police will also be attending various car parks within the community and highlighting the importance of removing valuables from your vehicle when left unattended or locking them away out of sight.

A MIDLOTHIAN-based biotechnology firm has secured a two-year manufacturing deal worth more than £4.5 million.

Angel Biotechnology, based at the Pentlands Science Park, has reached an agreement on three further contracts with Materia Medica Holding. It is expected these projects will run concurrently and take around 22 months to complete.

Angel, which offers the manufacture of advanced biologics such as stem cells, antibodies and viruses for clinical trial use and commercial sale, will start work on the deal at its Pentlands facility.

Production will eventually transfer to the company’s Cramlington site, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Angel agreed a joint venture with MMH last year to make new drugs, which will involve the creation of a dedicated manufacturing unit for MMH.

A MAJOR overhaul of the recycling system is planned to take effect in Midlothian later this year.

The improvements – planned to come into effect in October – include a weekly food collection and residents receiving a new wheelie bin for dry goods such as packaging and aerosols to be recycled.

Under the new proposals, out for public consultation, grey bins will continue to be emptied fortnightly and the brown garden waste bins will be emptied every two weeks between March and November.

Residents will receive a new wheelie bin for dry recyclates such as plastic bottles, Tetra Pak cartons, newspapers and cans. This will also be emptied fortnightly.

The red box, currently used to collect glass, will be picked up fortnightly instead of weekly. Food waste will be collected in a small 55-litre bin.

Residents’ views on the recycling proposals can be included in a survey available on the council website from the end of February.

A series of meetings and roadshows will be held throughout the coming months, with a timetable yet to be announced.

It is hoped the measures will see recycling rates in Midlothian reach more than 56 per cent by 2015.

Addressing the recent full council meeting, Councillor Wilma Chalmers (Lab) said: “We have to move forward if we have to make changes to continue to meet targets. Some targets are quite ambitious, and we have to introduce more recycling.

“We already have a robust kerbside recycling collection scheme in place and none of this would have been possible without residents, who have been coming on board with this.”