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Network Rail's Ross Moran told the inquiry: "It was possibly the busiest day I can ever recall in respect of the volume of incidents requiring to be managed."

The UK Energy Minister spoke to The Press and Journal after the first meeting of a 20-strong group charged with making the north-east a clean energy powerhouse.

Emergency services are at the scene.

Birse and Aboyne residents have been left fearful that they could face another two years without vital vehicle access across the River Dee.

John Burns' discovery was hailed by the oil industry but allegations of betrayal and double dealing have locked him in a decade-long legal battle with his former business partners.

The man is due to appear in court in Aberdeen on Friday.

The geography teacher said he "strongly endorsed" the content of the note sent out by the education director this week.

Andrew Pirie died after being struck by a tree on a farm near Stonehaven.