WITH the worst of the winter weather behind us, the spring session of the rugby season (taking us up to Easter) got under way at the weekend with Cumbernauld’s under 14 team taking on local rivals Lenzie in a challenge match.

Conditions weren’t great, but this game helped Cumbernauld get rid of the cobwebs as they build towards the District Tournament at the end of March, and selections for the Lanarkshire Lions squad.

For the full story see this week’s Cumbernauld News and Kilsyth Chronicle - out now!

THEY say that ‘every little helps’, and that was certainly the case last week for the Link Playgroup after Tesco helped the new group open their doors in style.

The new children’s group was recently set up and Tesco Community Champion, Emma MacKenzie gave the children a dream start by donating toys, stuffed animals and games on behalf of the company.

Emma said: “If any community group require help then it’s my job to see if Tesco can give them a hand.

“It’s good to get in touch with the local community and it’s quite satisfying to be able to help people. The children were loving the toys and one child was even crying near the end because they didn’t want to leave, they were having such a good time!

“We donated lots of toys, stuffed animals, balls for a ball pit, toy cars and a tunnel and we were happy to help.”

HIGHLY controversial proposals to build thousands of “affordable homes” in Kilsyth have all but been dismissed.

Last year North Lanarkshire was told by a Scottish Government agency that too few sites had been earmarked for homes in the local plan - the planning “bible” for the area.

The plots the agency wanted to see added would have made space for more than 2000 new houses, many of them on green belt land.

But following consultation the proposals for the most controversial sites have been ruled out. And while some surrounding villages may still be developed this is seen as having a more beneficial effect.

Local resident Bill Hughes was dismayed when he heard of the original plans - but this week hailed the climbdown as “a victory for common sense.”

For the full story, see your Kilsyth Chronicle - out now.

DO YOU fancy a new look for the new season?

With spring/summer 2012 fast approaching, the News and Chronicle has teamed up with Specsavers in Cumbernauld town centre to offer our readers the chance to win two pairs of designer glasses worth up to £125 each.

The two lucky winners will each win a pair of glasses from Specsavers’ extensive designer range.

Specsavers Cumbernauld offers a huge range of designer frames from top fashion brands including Karen Millen, Timberland, Jasper Conran, Gok Wan, fcuk®, Red or Dead, Tommy Hilfiger and Osiris. As well as children’s frames featuring kids’ favourites like SpongBob SquarePants and Shrek.

All frames come with Pentax single vision and scratch resistant lenses as standard.

Antonia McNeill, director of Specsavers Cumbernauld, says: “This is the perfect time of year to update your style. A simple change like a new pair of glasses can instantly give you a new look.”

For full details of our easy-to-enter competition, see your News and Chronicle - out now.