WE TAKE a look at the stories making headlines in East Lothian 25, 50 and 100 years ago.

25 years ago

A “MASSACRE” was taking place in Haddington, reported the East Lothian Courier on April 30, 1999.

Black-backed gulls are continuing to massacre scores of young ducks and moorhens around the Nungate Bridge and angry residents want action to oust the predators, classed as vermin.

Community councillor David Motherwell, a keen birdwatcher who lives in Tyne Court, facing the river, said: “These gulls arrive every year a few weeks before the young birds hatch.

“They perch on the roofs of the houses overlooking the river and swoop on any young bird that wanders a few feet away from their family.

“The ducks have just started hatching.

“They seem to get caught when they try and cross the bank.

“Some folk will say that there are enough ducks on the Tyne and that it’s just nature taking its course.

“Thirty per cent would be nature but ninety per cent is nothing but an overkill.”

50 years ago

“RELIEF for Tranent through traffic plan” was headline news in the East Lothian Courier on May 3, 1974.

History was made this week when Tranent Town Council approved the first stage of plans aimed at improving the town centre and solving the drastic traffic problem.

Stage one includes the creation of two spur roads – from the east and west – terminating behind Civic Square, with associated parking.

Along with this would be the linking of Blawearie Road and Kings Road and the closure of Loch Road.

The council agreed that when the time came for Stage Two – in about a decade or so – the appropriate authority should carry out an extensive review of the plans and carry out surveys and consultations.

Last month the council, which favoured the plans when they were prepared two years ago, admitted they had never discussed the plans as a body and criticised points in Stage Two, including the proposed pedestrianisation of High Street and the linking of the spur roads to form a relief road.

100 years ago

A BRONZE age grave was discovered on a Cockburnspath farm, told The Haddingtonshire Courier on May 2, 1924.

A grave of the bronze age has been unearthed in a field on the farm of Hoprig.

The walls of the grave were formed of land stones, with a covering of rough slabs. Nothing was found, however, beyond two flint implements.

A number of years ago, several cists containing human remains and three urns in excellent condition were found in the same district.