A diverse range of innovative social service projects and organisations have made the shortlist for Care Accolades 2007, the “Oscars” for the sector in Scotland. Now in its fourth year, the Care Accolades, organised by the SSSC in partnership with the Scottish Executive, is Scotland’s only established awards ceremony for the social service sector. 

A Glasgow priest who had sex with Angelika Kluk has admitted having another affair – with a church musician. Details of the sexual relationship between Father Gerry Nugent and Sarah Howie were revealed by the priest this afternoon at the High Court in Edinburgh.

A big-hearted community has joined together to raise money in memory of murdered Glasgow gran Agnes Mechen. Friends and neighbours of 64-year-old – known as Nessa – organised a fundraising event in aid of National Missing Person’s Helpline charity which helped the family of the pensioner when she went missing from her Govanhill home.

A revolutionary new treatment to ease pain among diabetes sufferers will be introduced at a clinic on the outskirts of Glasgow. Within the next few weeks doctors at the Essential Health Clinic in Rutherglen will offer anodyne therapy’ for patients who suffer from the painful condition Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

A health board has decided to extend its no smoking policy to include all its grounds. NHS Highland said some staff issues had still to be “ironed out” before the expanded ban could be rolled out. Chairman Garry Coutts said the board could not be seen to be supporting smoking on its property.

A surgeon is to stand for the Scottish Parliament in protest at National Health Service changes. David Smith, who is targeting Glasgow Cathcart as an independent, is demanding better healthcare provision across the south of Glasgow.

An ambulance worker sacked for sending paramedics to pick up her drunken boss from a nightclub said yesterday she had rejected a £50,000 out-of-court settlement. Margaret Gokce is instead taking legal action against the Scottish Ambulance Service, citing unfair dismissal, after a three-year battle to clear her name.

A former nanny says she has been refused permission to adopt a child because she is overweight. Gillian Vose, 42, said social services rejected her application because her weight – she weighs 20 stone (127kg) and is 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall – meant she would not be able to cope with the child concerned.

The Catholic confessional, with its dark wooden panels, metal grille and cloth curtain to mask penitent from priest, was replaced yesterday by a blond wooden witness box, a microphone and a large jug of water.

Plans to give asylum seekers the legal right to work have been put on ice by the Scottish Executive. Present UK laws ban asylum seekers from taking paid jobs but allow them to carry out voluntary work.