Police in Ayrshire are appealing for information to help trace 61-year-old Ian Thomson, who has been reported missing from Prestwick. Photo: Police Scotland Mr Thomson was last seen in the Calvinston Road area of Prestwick around 10.30am on Thursday, 6 November 2025. He is described as being around 5ft 10in tall, of slim build, with brown hair and brown eyes. When last seen, he was wearing black trousers, a black zipper top and black trainers. He is believed to be travelling

Howard Park was transformed into a frightfully festive celebration of Halloween fun and magic as Killieween returned with a bang — landing on Halloween night itself! Families from across East Ayrshire joined the ghoulish gathering, enjoying live music from singers beyond the grave, hosted by the delightfully creepy Beetlejuice, who kept the crowd entertained from the main stage. The park was packed with games, kids’ activities, a pumpkin patch, inflatable maze, market stalls

Stagecoach South Scotland has teamed up with Ayr United and The Night Before Christmas Campaign to help bring festive joy to children and families across Ayrshire this festive period. Now in its fourth year of support for the charity, Stagecoach is calling on fans and members of the local area to donate gifts at Somerset Park ahead of Ayr United’s home fixture against Arbroath on Saturday 15 November. The goal will be to fill an entire bus with presents that will be distribut

Last month Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council assumed the role of Chair of the Ayrshire Joint Economic Committee - the regional decision-making body governing the Ayrshire Growth Deal and the Regional Economic Strategy.   In this piece he shares his thoughts and hopes for the Growth Deal over the coming months. “It’s a real honour to be taking on this role and to represent the region, our partners and investors and to support all that is happening in Ayr

Police in Ayrshire are appealing for the public’s help to trace 55-year-old Trevor Graham, who has been reported missing from North Ayrshire. Mr Graham was last seen leaving his home on the morning of Monday, 3 November 2025. He is described as white Scottish, around 5ft 8in tall, of medium build, with short brown hair. When last seen, he was wearing a black jumper and grey jogging bottoms. It is believed Mr Graham may be using a white Ford Focus ST with the registration mark

Detectives in East Ayrshire have released an image of a man they believe can assist with enquiries into a robbery in Cumnock. The incident took place within Hamilton Place, around 2.40pm on Monday, 20 October, 2025. The man is described as being white, of medium height and build, in his 40s with a local accent. He was wearing a hat and a yellow/cream coloured padded jacket, with the left pocket ripped revealing a red lining. He was also wearing black trousers and tan/brown sh

Culzean Castle visitors get the chance to win tickets and vouchers for upcoming Christmas shopping fair   Marc Peters Glass at Culzean Castle (© JSH Pix) Deck the Halls, a brand new Christmas gift fair coming to the SEC from 28-30 November, is teaming up with partner, National Trust for Scotland to host a giant festive gift hunt at Culzean Castle this weekend.   Culzean Castle in Ayrshire will host the gift hunt from Friday 7 - Sunday 9 November, giving visitors the chance to

Stagecoach has announced the launch of its new South Scotland Operating Company; bringing together the current West Scotland and East Scotland operations under one aligned structure focused on delivering even better value and services for customers and communities.   The unification will incorporate the existing West Scotland operations across Ayrshire and Lanarkshire and the East Scotland network serving Fife, Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Tayside and Angus.   The newly amalgam

South Ayrshire Provost Iain Campbell and South Ayrshire Council's Director of Communities and Transformation, Jane Bradley, attended an awards ceremony at Edinburgh castle for the Lowland Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association Employer Recognition Scheme. South Ayrshire Council was awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award. The ERS recognises employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate, or advocate support to Defence and the Armed Forces community,

Ayr Rugby Football Club has been awarded a £5,000 donation from The Mickel Fund, providing a welcome boost to its ongoing youth and community rugby initiatives. The Scottish charitable trust, which supports a wide range of community organisations and causes across the country, has recognised the club’s continued commitment to developing grassroots sport and providing opportunities for young people in Ayrshire. The donation will go towards enhancing training facilities and equ

As October fades into its final hours, streets across Ayrshire and the wider world are once again coming alive with glowing pumpkins, eerie costumes, and the unmistakable thrill of Halloween night. It’s the one evening of the year when shadows seem to dance, laughter mixes with screams, and the air carries both mischief and mystery. Happy Halloween Halloween has long been a night where imagination takes over when doorsteps become stages for ghosts and ghouls, and ordinary hom

Dreghorn’s very own Deni Kennedy has made history by becoming the first ever Ayrshire finalist for Miss Great Britain in more than eight decades, a remarkable achievement built on courage, self-belief, and a passion for helping others. At just 24 years old, Deni’s journey to the spotlight has been anything but ordinary. Working as a Health Care Assistant, she’s well known for her kindness, compassion, and drive to make a difference in people’s lives. But behind her warm smil

A 35-year-old man has been convicted of murdering a young man in Troon. James Thomson was found guilty of the murder of 22-year-old Callum Pollock following a trial at Glasgow High Court on Thursday, 30 October 2025. He will be sentenced at a later date. Emergency services were called around 11.40pm on Saturday, 6 July 2024, to a property at Ramsay Court, Scott Crescent, after reports of a man being seriously injured. Callum was pronounced dead at the scene, and Thomson was l

South Ayrshire Council have this afternoon revealed that a paper will be brought to the council on 6th November which will recommend scrapping the care village plans for the former Arran Mall & Hourstones site in Ayr. Instead the council will look at the potential of a residential development for the area. SAC Said: “A paper will be brought to Council on 6 November to advise Councillors that proposals to deliver a Care Village at the Hourstons and Arran Mall site in Ayr, is n

East Ayrshire Council’s annual garden competition recognises the top amateur gardeners from across East Ayrshire. A special award ceremony, sponsored by Tivoli Group Ltd and Gemmells Garden Centre, was held recently at the Council’s headquarters in Kilmarnock. The award ceremony was officially opened by Councillor Jim McMahon, Spokesperson for Housing, Transport and Communities, and the awards were presented by Councillor McMahon and Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Cou

MSP Siobhian Brown has stepped in following growing concern over the future of AquaSharks Swim School, which is facing possible closure after losing access to the pools it uses at Sundrum Castle and Sandylands holiday parks. The popular swim school, which teaches around 500 swimmers each week — including hundreds of children with additional support needs — is set to lose its venues next month after Parkdean Resorts confirmed the pools would not remain open during the winter m

Barassie Primary School has celebrated the launch of a brand-new children’s picture book created in partnership with local author Lorraine Johnston. The book, titled Who or What is Frooglesprot?, was officially launched on Friday 24th October at a special event held in the school’s library. Lorraine worked closely with both staff and pupils to bring the project to life, providing story guidance and illustration notes to the school’s Primary 7 class, who produced all the origi

As Halloween approaches, I’ve been rummaging through my usual collection of fancy-dress costumes, everything from the classics to the downright bizarre. One in particular always makes me smile: a shiny robot suit. But then there’s my showstopper, a 9-foot inflatable Frankenstein, (Big Frankie) as he is affectionately known as that someone straps themselves into, towering over crowds and turning heads wherever it goes. Standing there, staring at those costumes, I found myself

A 40-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the robbery of an 83-year-old woman in her home in Bonnyton, Kilmarnock. Around 1pm on Thursday, 23 October, 2025, a man presented at the woman's door then entered and stole her purse and phone. The woman was injured but did not require hospital treatment. The 40-year-old man is due to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff court on Tuesday, 28 October, 2025 Detective Sergeant Keith Hyndes said: "We’d like to thank the

Community councils in the Garnock Valley are calling on local residents to step forward and represent their towns and villages ahead of the fast-approaching election deadline. Kilbirnie and Glengarnock Community Council – covering the town of Kilbirnie and the village of Glengarnock – and Beith and District Community Council – representing Beith along with Gateside and Barrmill – are set to hold their Ordinary Elections in line with the Scheme for the Establishment of Communi