THE number of vacant shops in Glasgow city centre is disappointing but no cause for alarm.

Glasgow retailers, like their counterparts in other big cities, are being hit by the credit crunch.

That may make it difficult for empty premises to be re-occupied quickly but Glasgow is better placed than most to ride out the economic storm It remains the best location to shop outside London and there's no sign it will lose that status.

However, vacant shops are a depressing sight and business and council bosses must keep doing everything they can to find new tenants as soon as possible.

Glasgow is Scotland with Style and it must keep living up to its branding. BA bosses must think again

BA bosses must listen to the growing protests over their proposals to close the airline's cabin crew base in Glasgow.

They already stand accused of damaging Scottish business by cutting the "red eye" and bringing forward the last departure from Heathrow to Glasgow.

Labour transport spokesman Des McNulty is right when he accuses BA of leaving staff with Hobson's choice over the redundancy package on offer.

Many of the crew members are long-serving and have family and other ties so accepting a move to London is near impossible.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh must think again.