A STAR was born in Tillicoultry on Saturday night as shy student Gamu Nhengu wowed the nation on ITV’s the X-Factor.

 

Well over 11 million viewers tuned in to watch the pretty 18-year-old former Alva Academy pupil blow the judges’ socks off with her rendition of 1983 Katrina and the Waves hit “Walking on Sunshine”.

 AN Alloa sheriff wished a disqualified driver a happy birthday as he banned him from getting behind the wheel for two years last week.

 

Sheriff David Mackie made the unusual remark as he sentenced James Jaffray for driving while disqualified and breaking the speed limit on the A907 Clackmannan bypass last July.

 A BRAVE Tullibody tot saved her diabetic mother’s life as she suddenly slipped into hypoglycaemic shock while playing with her three-year-old.

 

The fast reaction of Wee County toddler Rebecca Neil has impressed family and friends, who still can’t believe the young girl was able to call for help when mum Hazel Neil collapsed last weekend.

 ALLOA boss Allan Maitland hailed his team’s professional attitude as they ground out a 1-0 away win against inform Stenhousemuir.

 

Bryan Prunty capitalised on Gary Thom’s mistake to net his third goal of the season as the Wasps went joint top of the league with Forfar and Livingston.

 A TEARFUL Big Mags Haney said her heart ‘was lying in the coffin’ of her beloved grandson Barry Bradley as it was lowered into the grave last Friday.

 

Four generations of the Haney family attended the funeral at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Stirling to mourn the death of 18-year-old Barry who was killed in Alva three weeks ago.

 A TOP design technician, who neglected his pets so badly that two hamsters and a rabbit were found dead in his rubbish filled Alloa home – said it happened because he was “stressed”.

 

Graeme Robertson 32, kept seven rabbits and two hamsters in his flat on Mary Stevenson Drive in Alloa.