Corn snakes are from the USA, they range throughout central and eastern America. They are relatively small snakes that grow on average 4-6ft and are form a family called Colubridae.

There are over 600 different colour and morph variations of corn snakes, however the ‘normal’ (Carolina) is bright red to orange with black markings.

Corn snakes can live for over 18 years so are a long term commitment.

In the wild they like to live in pine forests, rocky outcrops, grasslands and near farms, they are often found inside corn stores hence why they are called

Corn snakes.

They do prefer to spend most of their time on the ground, however, they will appreciate the opportunity to climb.

Keeping a Corn snake in a 4ftx2ftx2ft vivarium will be sufficient – as long as they are allowed out on a regular basis for more exercise. A temperature of range of 21-30°C is good for Corn snakes, with one side being the hot side and the other being the cooler side.

There are a number of ways to heat your vivarium but remember whatever you choose must have a thermostat for safety of the snake. You will need to provide hides on both sides of the vivarium so your corn snake can feel safe to thermoregulate correctly.

Just remember all snakes are excellent escape artists so make sure your vivarium is secure!

Corn snakes are fed on rodents. As youngsters they are often fed on mice but as they grow you can move them onto rats. You can get these from most local pet shop nowadays or online. Just remember that they need to be fully defrosted before you can feed them to your Corn snake. Please remember that you cannot refreeze any defrosted rodents. Fresh water should be provided in a sturdy bowl for your snake.

As with any new pet you need to do your own research before getting a new animal. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a bit more about three of the main animals in the exotic pet trade.

Homeowners are being warned that they may have to sweep their chimneys twice a year to prevent a house fire.

The latest figures from insurance company NFU Mutual show that over the past three years, 44 per cent of chimney fire claims were made between January and March, with another spate around Easter.

Ross Garner, high value home insurance specialist, said: “As the number of fires being lit over a prolonged period increases so too does the risk of chimney fires. The rise in fires from January to March highlights that not only should a flue or chimney be swept before the first fire of the season, but if an open fire or wood burning stove is frequently used then it may need to be swept again during the colder months.

“Fire can devastate lives and properties so it’s important people protect themselves through the regular inspection and cleaning of chimneys and flues.”

Over the last three years, NFU Mutual has paid out more than £6 million in chimney fire claims.

The insurer has warned that wood burning or multi fuel stoves, which reach high temperatures, can increase the risk of fire as they send more live sparks and embers out of the chimney. Homeowners should also ensure that they only burn seasoned hardwood.

While thatched homes are no more likely to suffer a fire than homes with a conventional roof, if a thatched roof does ignite the fire is very difficult to control and the results can be devastating.

The company’s checklist to avoid a chimney fire is:-

• Chimneys should be routinely checked or surveyed to ensure that they are structurally sound, well-maintained and able to cope with the demands of modern heating appliances;

• A chimney should be swept by a professional chimney sweep at least twice a year if it is in use frequently or all year round.

• Chimney linings should also be regularly inspected, especially when the main fuel is wood, as tar deposits are highly combustible and corrosive. A qualified chimney sweep should be able to identify potential problems at an early stage.

• Only burn seasoned hardwood.

• Speak to your local fire safety officer for further advice about fire prevention.

• Fit a bird guard to deter birds from building nests in your chimney.

• Check the electrical system throughout your home.

Scotland’s maternity services are buckling under the pressure of rising demand, according to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

In a report due to be published tomorrow (Tuesday) the college has said that a combination of high birthrates, an ageing workforce and an increase in births to older mothers are responsible.

The RCM’s State of Maternity Services Report brings together information about maternity services in all four UK countries and also highlights the pressures on maternity services facing each country.

Despite a recent dip the report outlines that births remain high in Scotland. Grampian saw a rise of almost a quarter (23 per cent) between 2003 and 2015. Across the same period a rise of almost 1000 births was recorded in Lothian, a jump of over 11 per cent.

The RCM also noted that births are becoming increasingly complex, with obesity in pregnancy a major issue causing more complications with an increased need for additional support and care. In Scotland more than a fifth of pregnant women are obese.

Births to women in their late thirties are up over 2,000 since the year 2000. Births to women aged 40 or older is up by around 1,000 and for those over 45 the number of births has jumped fourfold, from 29 to 143 between 2000 and 2015.

Another pressing issue is Scotland’s ageing midwifery workforce, and the need to ensure that those heading for retirement are replaced.

The RCM is working with the Scottish Government and the health service to consider intake planning for student midwives to ensure that there are enough midwives with enough time to gather experience before the retirement time-bomb hits.

Mary Ross-Davie, RCM director for Scotland, said: “We have to stop Scotland facing the shortage of midwives that has blighted England for over a decade. We will do this by ensuring that all those midwives heading for retirement are replaced in good time. This needs careful planning for the future, but it needs doing now.

“We have serious public health issues in Scotland with high levels of obesity and smoking in pregnancy among many other issues. With older mothers it is the women who will decide when they get pregnant, and we support whatever choices they make. What is important is that we have the right numbers of staff and resources to give all of these women the best possible care.

“Scotland’s maternity services are very good but there are signs that it is beginning to buckle as demand rises. Our Government and our NHS need to show even more that they value maternity services, that they value midwives and that they value the women, babies and their families that the service cares for.”

A pupil at Selkirk High School has made it through to the star-studded grand final of a fashion competition, to be held in Glasgow.

S2 pupil Madalaine Cross, of Yarrow, is one of 80 secondary school pupils shortlisted for trash fashion competition Junk Kouture, which challenges young designers across Scottish secondary schools to get creative with everyday junk.

Contestants will be joined at Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium on Thursday, February 9, by judges Louis Walsh of the X Factor and Saturdays pop star Una Healy.

The night will also include performances by X Factor runners-up Reggie ’n’ Bollie as well as Irish singer-songwriter Brendan Murray.

Members of the public can vote online for their favourite design to win the competition, and so far, Madalaine’s design has received more than 300 votes.

The 13-year-old made the dress inspired by nature from a selection of waste, including recycled packaging. It also included old curtain fabric samples and is trimmed with hessian off-cuts and the headdress is made from twigs and lichen.

Her mum, Sarah Cross, said: “The dress is made from old curtain fabric samples and is trimmed with hessian offcuts and the headdress is made from twigs and lichen. She was keen to create something highlighting sustainability and when she came across the fabric she decided to go with the theme of saving our trees.

“Madalaine will be modelling the dress herself although this was not originally her plan. She is quite nervous about doing it but thinks it will be a fun experience and is excited at the prospect of seeing the celebrities involved in person. She would love to do some sort of design as a career and has considered fashion as an option. Her favourite subject at school is definitely art but she also greatly enjoys technology and science.

Art and design teacher Joanne Gilfillan, who has taught at the school since May 2015, said: “The whole design was done at a lunch club that was set up so it was done completely in her own time.

“The club ran between an hour and two hours a week, and it took Madalaine from around September to December to complete the design and make the dress.

“She is only in S2 and most of the other contestants are actually senior pupils, and to add further pressure, a lot of the other pupils competing are from much bigger schools.

“We are only a small school in comparison to a lot of them, so she is doing really well in the number of votes she has already received.”

The overall winner of this year’s contest will receive £1,000 for their school, £500 cash and iPad minis for their team, and teacher.

The enterprise and performance winners will take away a trophy and Asos or Ticketmaster vouchers, and the winner of the glamour prize will have the chance to walk the red carpet in their design at a royal film premiere in London.

This year will include a junior design award for the first time, and winners of this category will receive a trophy, as well as One4all vouchers.

A sheriff has admitted being left speechless after being told a 16-year-old girl involved in a drunken disturbance in Galashiels is already an alcoholic despite still being a child.

The teenager – who cannot be named for legal reasons due to her age – pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to a charge of threatening behaviour, shouting and swearing and acting in an aggressive manner following an incident in Gala Park last July.

Her lawyer, Andrew Doherty, told the court she was an alcoholic, adding: “This is the catalyst for her misbehaviour.”

He explained that as often as she can, she gets together with three or four friends, and they consume about a litre of vodka, six litres of cider and two 10-can crates of lager between them.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said he found it difficult to comprehend that a girl of 16 could be an alcoholic, adding: “It takes a lot to surprise a criminal court, but I must confess that I am speechless at what I have been told.”

He deferred sentencing the teenager for three months for good behaviour and called for a report to be prepared by Addaction, a drug and alcohol treatment charity already called in to try to help her.

Scotland’s farmers have been assured that the Scottish Government will fight for the best possible deal for the industry at home and in Europe after Brexit.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to representatives at the NFUS annual general meeting that Professor Russel Griggs will chair a group designed to ensure a profitable, sustainable and environmentally friendly future for the agriculture industry.

The group will represent farming and environmental interests to review the Scottish Government’s approach to greening and recommend how available policy and support mechanisms can be used most effectively to promote profitable farming while meeting environmental commitments

Ms Sturgeon re-asserted her commitment to Scotland’s farmers, highlighting the distinct interests of farming in Scotland that make it crucial that any powers transferred from the EU in the event of Brexit go to the Scottish Parliament rather than to Westminster.

The First Minister also confirmed that £16,000 will be made available to help grow new markets for Scottish red meat by supporting a promotion drive at key international food shows in Asia and North America.

She said: “Brexit presents the biggest challenge to farming in Scotland in our generation. Agriculture is a more important part of Scotland’s economy than the UK because of our landscape and climate. So it’s important for the agriculture sector that Scotland has a strong say in the negotiations with the EU.

“It’s vital to ensuring that the settlement which is reached meets your needs and the Scottish Government will work with the industry to make the sector as sustainable and efficient as possible.

“This is why we have appointed Professor Russel Griggs to chair a group to review the Scottish Government’s approach to greening and make recommendations for a profitable, sustainable and environmentally friendly industry.”

Galashiels supermarket manager Mark Nichol is a one-man tourist board for the Borders. His videos are informative, but his tongue remains firmly in his cheek. Kevin Janiak reports

From discovering hidden waterfalls to being terrorised by the Cauldshiels Water Bull, Mark Nichol has been enthusiastically bringing the Borders to life for four years.

While others have shown the beauty of the Borders, others have enlightened viewers on its rich history, and others still have made us laugh at ourselves, Mark’s irreverent looks at our region does all of that.

The 41-year-old’s on-screen persona is his USP ... and he has hundreds of followers on Facebook and You Tube who can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve next.

Indeed, he is often stopped on the street by complete strangers, who tell him how much they enjoy his videos.

But where did it all start for the man who manages the Aldi store in Galashiels?

He said: “Four years ago, I was working in Tesco, and we had to put together a video project on our iphones.

“I was just stunned as to how easy it was to put a video together, and I decided to start doing some of my own.

“I soon upgraded to an ipad and now work on a laptop, and edit the videos using imovie. I’m getting better at it now ... it only takes me a couple of hourse to edit something that used to take me a couple of days.”

Mark insisted that he had never really shown much of an interest in history, until he began researching material for his videos.

He said one old drawing from the past really piqued his interest.

Mark explained: “I’ve always been interested in wildlife, but history has never really grabbed me.

“But I saw a picture on a website showing a drawbridge on the Tweed,

“I looked into it, doing a bit of digging, but couldn’t find anything about it, until I looked at a couple of obscure books, and found out that Sir Walter Scott had also looked for this bridge, but it had even been destroyed at the time of his life.

“He eventually found remains of the bridge when he was out salmon fishing, and it became central to his story ‘The Abbot’.

“The bridge keeper, who lived in the central column, is a character in the book.

“It was known as Pringle’s Brig.

“I eventually found where it was ... and it was in Bridge End, which is now called Lowwood, where I live.

“I really felt that I had uncovered something. Obviously I hadn’t, because the sources were there, but not in the public eye.

“Here was a drawbridge in Galashiels, and nobody really knew anything about it. So I looked into more hidden stuff, such as hidden cemeteries in Torwoodlee and Bridge Street, and found out Galashiels had the first suspension bridge in the UK, near B&Q.

“I then branched out into the wider Borders.”

He said he is not trying to lecture anyone, more trying to entertain.

He added: “That’s why I’m keeping it fairly light, and putting in some comedic narrative. I have no education in history, it’s almost like I’m finding the things out with them.”

In total views, Mark’s videos have been watched around 240,000 times.

He said: “About 20% of the views are from outside the UK ... mostly in America.”

While he tries to keep his films entertaining and many of his lines are said with his tongue firmly in his cheek, there is no masking his sincere love of the Borders countryside.

And as his videos become more popular, it gives him further knowledge as people tell him what he’s missed.

One of his recent videos had him searching the area for waterfalls.

In the video, he says: “I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how to promote tourism in the Scottish Borders and what could I make a film about that could help.

“And I was thinking about my mate Davie, his brother-in-law from Kelsae, he went to Niagara Falls. He said it was really guid like, really guid.

“And I started thinking about my own holiday in Cyprus and how there is this huge tourist industry built up around waterfalls.

“So I thought, that’s it. I’m going to make a video about waterfalls in the Scottish Borders.

“But then, I’ve got a problem, I don’t think there are any.”

He’s next seen by the former Skinworks cauld in Galashiels – but that is discounted as a “post-industrialised urban riverscape”.

The majestic Grey Mare’s Tail is next, but that is ruled out due to the fact that it lies two miles over the border into Dumfries and Galloway.

He is then suitably impressed at the waterfall in the gardens at Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick.

But, he says: “I’m looking for something a bit bigger, a bit more dramatic ... something we can tell all our friends about.”

Then, he finds what he is looking for near Stichill.

He says: “I really can’t understand why this place is not given more publicity.

“It really is awe-inspiring and I can see why artists have been inspired by it. I can see why poets write about the place.

“And I’m the only person here. People flock to look at waterfalls all over the world, and this is probably one of the most beautiful I’ve seen.

“I had trouble finding it.

“We need to promote the area, but we keep these hidden gems ... hidden.”

Mark said since he posted this video, he has had several people telling him about other waterfalls in the area – such as Craik Forest, Corbie Lynn and . So another video may be in the offering.

But he is not about to run out of things to film.

He told us: “I have loads of ideas on the go.

“Up north of Peebles, there is a huge unused railway tunnel. It’s not a story on its own, so I am trying to work out what to do with it.”

Actually, since we talked to Mark, he has gone and videoed the tunnel, and based it round a homage to a fictional uncle.

‘Tunneling Tommy The Teviotdale Tiger’ tells the tale of his uncle Tommy, who went into the tunnel years ago, never to be seen again.

We won’t spoil it for you ... it’s best you see it for yourself ... but it is safe to say that it is indicative of Mark’s ability to have a laugh with his viewers while still providing insight into hidden parts of our region.

Other films include looking at the Borders under the Romans, the Lowland Clearances, famine in the area between 1694-1697, Knights Templar and the Linton Worm – another subject which also attracted the eye of Sir Walter Scott.

In his videos, he works with his friend Stuart Wilson, who looks after the technical side and is building the www.discoverscottishborders.com website.

Check out their You Tube channel www.youtube.com/channel/UCljyr69S3ivJchdGrfJBqoA

Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) has revealed its plans for the empty space left by the demolition two years ago of the 24 flats at Rose Court in Langlee.

As part of its “modest development program”, the association hopes to build 10 three-bedroom family homes, with associated car parking, solar panels on the roof and front and back gardens, on the land where the former student accomodation stood.

Henry Coyle, SBHA’s director of assets and property services, presented the plans to members of Galashiels Community Council last Wednesday.

He explained that while SBHA normally refurbishes its properties, there are times when demolition and building anew is the only real option.

He said: “Rose Court was previously leased and utilised by Heriot-Watt University for student accomodation. The lease expired as Heriot-Watt had completed a new build for this purpose.

“The 24 maisonettes were unpopular and difficult to let.

“SBHA commissioned a team to carry out a wide-ranging options appraisal that considered refurbishment and adapatation, as well as demolition and new build.

“The study concluded that demolition and new build was viable and refurbishment was not.”

Mr Coyle added: “There is more than enough demand in Galashiels for quality social housing, and that is what we have proposed here ... 10 family homes which should be available by spring 2018, if we can get onsite by the summer.”

Community councillor Drew Tulley raised concerns about cutting costs by using cheap fixtures and fittings, which he called “false economy” and asked if there were enough car parking spaces planned.

Mr Coyle replied by saying only quality fixtures and fittings would be used, and “the planning department at Scottish Borders Council won’t let us get away with putting in too few parking spaces.”

Galashiels Community Council chairwoman Judith Cleghorn said: “I think it is a fantastic project.”

And Johnny Gray added: “I would like to congratulate the association for planning something that is liveable – far better than what was there previously. I think the planning department should clap it though.”

Mr Coyle also talked about the association’s recent new-builds – Jessamine Cottages in Earlston, Stonefield and Deanfield in Hawick, and Torwoodlee Road in Galashiels.

He said: “The residents are very happy in their new-build homes. The previous buildings were hard to heat and hard to treat.

“The energy rating for the new-build homes is a high B, which means they are cheaper to heat.”

New fourth generation mobile services, known as 4G, have been switched on in Kelso.

4G gives people faster access to the internet, but there is a small chance that some signals transmitted at 800 MHz may cause interference to Freeview, which is received via an aerial.

Signs of interference could include loss of sound, a blocky picture, or a ‘no signal’ message.

The good news is help is available. Set-up under government direction, a company called at800 offers free support to households that rely on Freeview for their TV, and resolves 4G related interference so that viewers in Kelso can keep enjoying their favourite programmes.

Anyone who notices interference should contact at800 on: 0808 13 13 800 (free from landlines and mobiles) or visit www.at800.tv/contact-us

A pop-up bakery is celebrating after selling its 13,000th scone, raising more than £16,000 for African charities over the last two years.

Sukie’s Scones, a monthly fundraising enterprise run by Hawick couple Bill and Sukie Barber, in Selkirk’s Tower Street, regularly pulls in more than £450 in a single day.

The couple have donated £10,455 to African charities and £285 to Nepalese ones since opening the shop in 2015.

Initially, all their funds went to the Zithulele Hospital and Jabulani Foundation in Natal but they now also support a food project at the Kabanana Orphanage in Zambia.

Sukie said: “We have always had a heart for helping people, especially in Africa.

“We had been supporting the hospital, and about six months ago, I felt that we should be supporting a feeding programme as well.

“The programme in Zambia is feeding 400 people every day based in an orphanage.”

Six of the couple’s eight children, aged 19 to 36, have visited Africa on volunteering expeditions, inspiring their parents to support programmes they’ve seen at work there.

Sukie, a member of Selkirk Baptist Church, said: “I knew I would have the support of my friends from the church in the early days.

“Since then, the people of Selkirk have been very supportive, and the shopkeepers are amazing too. We had one regular who claimed we’re his favourite shop ever and that we’re better than Fortnum and Mason in London.”

With the couple providing the ingredients for their preserves, scones and other baked goodies themselves, every penny raised in the shop goes directly to the charities, with last month’s sale amassing £488.

“I think scones have to be fresh,” Sukie said. “I get up at 6am to make three batches at home so that we open with fresh scones. The rest are baked in the shop throughout the day, which people love.

“Every month, the amount we take in a day is getting more and more.”

Sukie, 57, originally from Romney Marsh in Sussex, and Bill, 69, of Twickenham in London, lived in the Highlands for 35 years, running the Old Pines restaurant in Spean Bridge for 15 of those, before moving recently to Priestrig Croft at Wilton, near Hawick.

Due to the demands of running their own catering business and acting as foster parents, the couple have never found time to visit Africa themselves, and Sukie admitted: “We would love to visit these places, but I have always felt that the money that it would take to go is much better spent feeding the children there.

“We would like to thank our existing customers who have supported us so loyally and generously and those who help us run the shop, especially Joy Stevens and Jess Talbot.”

Sukie’s Scones opens on the fourth Friday of each month at 1 Tower Street.

A man who made racist remarks towards a staff member in a Galashiels Indian takeaway on ‘Mad Friday’ has been ordered to pay a total of £1,000 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Kenneth Reid, 47, of Dunsdale Road, Selkirk, pleaded guilty to offences committed after a drinking session on the last Friday before Christmas in 2015.

The court was told that Reid, who runs his own plastering business, had been drinking in Galashiels all day before heading into Mr Singh’s in High Street at 11pm.

A customer intervened after Reid made racist remarks towards a staff member. Reid responded by repeatedly punching the man on the head to his injury, resulting in bruising to one eye, swelling and two broken front teeth for the victim.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick described the incident as “pretty unsavoury” and said it happened on ‘Mad Friday’ when his client had far too much alcohol. He added that Reid had no recollection of the incident due to the amount he had drunk.

Reid was fined £350 for making racist remarks and ordered to pay £150 compensation to the restaurant employee. He was also fined £350 for the assault and told to pay £150 to the victim. Reid was ordered to pay the total sum of £1,000 at the rate of £100 a month.

Reid’s son, Kieran, 26, of Sinclair Gardens, Edinburgh, had his not-guilty plea to making racist remarks and assaulting a male employee in the takeaway accepted by the Crown.

‘MOUTHY’PAIR IN GALA DAY FIGHT

An apprentice bricklayer has been fined £250 after being involved in a fight on Gala Day which led to a bigger disturbance.

Terry Skeet, 24, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to behaving in a disorderly manner, struggling with David Douglas to his injury and committing a breach of the peace in Huddersfield Street, Galashiels, on July 2.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the events started around 10pm when an argument between the pair became heated. He said Mr Douglas fell to the ground, suffering a cut head, and others stepped in to break it up. He was taken to Borders General Hospital for treatment.

Mr Fraser added: “In the words of the accused, ‘I was being mouthy and he was being mouthy’, and thereafter they got involved in a fight.”

Skeet’s solicitor, Mat Patrick, said a large amount of alcohol had been consumed between the two parties.

Mr Patrick said although it started as a fight between the pair, “it got much bigger than that” and at one stage Skeet, of Talisman Avenue, Galashiels, was struck with a bottle.

REFUSED TO GIVE BLOOD SAMPLE

A self-employed gardener has been disqualified from driving for 19 months after failing to give a blood sample when suspected of being over the alcohol limit, Selkirk Sheriff Court has heard.

Gordon Finlay, 37, of Abbotseat, Kelso, had been pulled over by police concerned about the manner of his driving at roadworks on the A68 at Soutra Hill on November 6. They suspected he was intoxicated, but when he was taken to Duns police station he refused to give a blood sample and told them to put him back in his cell.

Prosecutor Graham Fraser said: “It was not possible to take the sample properly.”

Finlay’s lawyer told the court that the father-of-two mistakenly believed he was within his rights to refuse a blood sample, adding that the inevitable ban was going to affect his business dearly.

Finlay was also fined £250.

ON TRIAL IN MARCH

Scott Grant, 23, of Queens Drive, Hawick, will stand trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on March 9 on a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at The Loan, Hawick, on January 8.

BAD BRAKE FOR BANNED DRIVER

A disqualified driver has been banned from the road for two years at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Scott Cooper, 37, of Wester Row, Greenlaw, was caught out when the vehicle he had just purchased for £120 rolled down the hill and struck another car, despite having the handbrake on.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the incident in Greenlaw on August 28 summed up the condition the Volkswagen Passat was in.

Cooper’s lawyer said his client had bought the vehicle for his partner and had only driven it 400 metres. He described Cooper’s conduct as “stupid.”

The lawyer accepted his client had previous convictions for driving while disqualified and was subjected to a 15-year ban imposed in 2003.

Cooper pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and with no insurance.

As well as the ban, he was given a 15-month community payback order with supervision as an alternative to imprisonment.

Cooper was admonished on the insurance charge.

AGGRESSIVE ACCUSATION

Edward Berry, 63, formerly of Boonraw Road, Hawick, and now living in Dunbar, will stand trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on February 23 on a charge of acting in an aggressive manner towards his wife at her home in Home Place, Coldstream, in September.

PETROL STATION ASSAULT CHARGE

A Jedburgh man will stand trial at the town’s sheriff court on a charge of assaulting a petrol station attendant.

Jonathan Field, 26, of Lothian Road, is accused of seizing hold of the woman’s right breast and making sexual remarks at the Shell Filling Station in Edinburgh Road, Jedburgh, on August 14.

A trial date has been fixed for April 20, with an intermediate hearing on March 20.

VILLAGE PUB FRACAS TRIAL

New trial dates have been fixed for a Paxton man accused of causing a disturbance in the village.

Stuart Seaton, 44, of Merse View, is accused of shouting and swearing, and acting in an aggressive manner in the Cross Inn on November 26. He is also charged with struggling with police officers at Hawick police station and uttering homophobic remarks to them while acting in a threatening manner.

A trial date has been set for May 16 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, with an intermediate hearing on April 18.

He was bailed on condition that he does not enter the Cross Inn.

DENIES SISTER DEATH THREAT

A 32-year-old man will stand trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on a charge of threatening to stab and kill his sister.

Richard Cowan denies the offence which is alleged to have happened at a house in Berrymoss Court, Kelso, on October 18. He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing a knife.

A trial date has been set for March 7.

HAWICK MAN’S NOT-GUILTY PLEA

A Hawick man will stand trial next month on a charge of threatening to harm his ex and her new partner.

Andrew Suddon, 47, of Harden Place, pleaded not guilty to the offence which is alleged to have happened on various occasions over the course of December 29 and 30.

A trial date has been set for March 7 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

NOT FERRY CLEVER

A Hawick man breached the terms of his interim sexual offences prevention order by failing to sign on at Hawick police station three days in a row.

Instead, Thomas Hoare, 49, of Princes Street, was trying to get on a Cairnryan-Belfast ferry earlier this month.

He pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to sign on at the police station on February 2, 3 and 4.

Hoare will be sentenced next month.

ACCUSED OF ASSAULT

A Hawick woman will stand trial accused of assaulting two women.

Elizabeth Port, 36, of Roxburghe Drive, denies the offences which are alleged to have happened at Wellogate Stables in Hawick on November 30.

The trial was fixed for March 7 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

DRINK-DRIVE CHARGE

Pawell Swiatek, 29, of Greenwell Avenue, Chirnside, has been accused of drinking and driving in the Berwickshire village on October 16.

He is alleged to have had a breath/alcohol count of 67 microgrammes – the legal limit being 22 – as well as driving a car away without the consent of the owner and failing to tell police who the driver was.

A trial has been fixed for March 7 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

JEDBURGH TRIAL DATE

A Hawick woman has been accused of assaulting a male and a female.

Danielle Reilly, 21, of Kenilworth Avenue, pleaded not guilty to the offences which are alleged to have been committed in Hawick on January 8.

She faces a third charge of shouting and swearing and making threatening comments.

A trial date was set for Jedburgh Sheriff Court on March 9.

OAP ASSAULT ALLEGATION

A Hawick man has been accused of assaulting a pensioner.

Barry Gibson, 41, of Cheviot Road, pleaded not guilty to pushing the 80-year-old man to the ground to his injury in High Street, Coldstream, on August 16.

The trial will take place at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on April 20, with an intermediate hearing on March 20.

CLAIMING SELF-DEFENCE

Gayle Beatson, 26, of Weensland Road, Hawick, will stand trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on March 7 on a charge of assaulting a woman in High Street, Hawick, on March 6 last year.

She has lodged a special defence of self-defence.

The trial date has been set for March 7.

STRUCK EX ON THE HEAD

A Kelso man who admitted assaulting his ex-partner will be sentenced on March 6.

Robert Yule, 40, of Inchmead Drive, pleaded guilty to repeatedly striking her on the head at a house in Inchmyre, Kelso, on December 3.

Five days later, the accused threatened her with violence and demanded money from her.

DENIES VIOLENT STRUGGLE

A Hawick man will stand trial next month on a charge of assault at a Galashiels superstore.

John-Paul Weldon, 27, of Melrose Court, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a man at Tesco on February 5.

Weldon also denies kicking a police officer on the head at the nearby Asda store on the same date and struggling violently with two police constables.

A trial has been fixed for March 30.

STUDENT DROVE DESPITE BAN

A disqualified driver drove 18 miles to college in Galashiels because he did not want to lose his bursary, Selkirk Sheriff Court had been told.

Kieran Hughes, 30, of Maxmill Park, Kelso, claimed he had missed classes due to ill-health, which led to financial problems, and when he missed his bus, decided to take the car, despite the fact he was serving a six-month ban.

Police officers spotted the vehicle in the Netherdale area of Galashiels on the afternoon of December 1 and realised it had no insurance. It then came to light Hughes was banned from driving.

His lawyer told the court he no longer goes to college.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said this was the fourth occasion Hughes had been caught driving without insurance which was made even more serious by the fact he was disqualified at the time.

Hughes received an 18-month ban and was ordered to carry out 70 hours of unpaid work.

POLICE TOOK EVASIVE ACTION

A motorist who overtook a line of three vehicles and forced a police car coming in the opposition direction to take evasive action has been fined £500 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Alisdair Kay, 64, admitted driving carelessly on the A703 between Peebles and Eddleston on May 5.

In addition to the fine, Kay of Townhead, near Auchterarder, had six penalty points placed on his licence.

EMBEZZLEMENT TRIAL ADJOURNED

The trial of a Kelso woman accused of embezzling £19,000 while working as the administrator of a Selkirk playgroup has been adjourned until May.

Fiona Hughes, 49, of Kaimflat Cottages, denies the offence which is said to have happened at the Argus Playgroup in Goslawdales between August 1, 2011, and November 1, 2014.

The Crown requested more time to prepare for the case after documents were lodged on behalf of the defence.

The trial has been fixed for Selkirk Sheriff Court on May 3, with an intermediate hearing on March 27.

REFUSED TO BE SEARCHED

A 30-year-old man who refused to be searched for drugs in a police station has received a 62-day prison sentence at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Michael Stead had been detained following an incident in the Talisman Avenue area of Galashiels on Friday, January 30 – a week after being released from prison.

He was taken to St Leonard’s Custody Centre in Edinburgh where he refused to co-operate with a search for drugs which were believed to be in his body.

Stead pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

After being told Stead had been in custody since January 2, Sheriff Peter Paterson imposed a backdated 62-day jail sentence which meant he would be released immediately.

POOL GLASS ‘JOKE’ BACKFIRED

A hotel worker who placed a wine glass at the bottom of a swimming pool claimed he did it as a joke, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Dean Laidlaw, 26, was sacked from his job as an attendant at the leisure complex of Peebles Hotel Hydro after a female swimmer felt the glass as she was exercising and handed it to him.

He reported the matter to his bosses, but when they checked the CCTV they found it was Laidlaw who was responsible for putting the glass there shortly after starting his shift at 6.15am.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said: “For someone to behave in that fashion is quite unbelievable.

“Fortunately, it was one found in one piece.”

Fiona Hamilton, defending, said Laidlaw had been sharing a joke with a female swimmer that she should drink wine.

The lawyer added: “She was obviously not party to it and he got on with the rest of his shift and forgot about it. He should not have done that during the course of his employment. It was a joke gone wrong.”

Father-of-four Laidlaw, of Eildon Crescent, Melrose – now working as a labourer – pleaded guilty to conducting himself in a disorderly manner by placing a glass in a swimming pool during the course of his employment on April 16 and committing a breach of the peace.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said he found it difficult to understand how it could be regarded as a joke and described the incident as “bizarre.”

Noting Laidlaw had already been punished by his dismissal from the hotel, he imposed a fine of £200.

CAR KEYS THIEF IS LOCKED UP

A Selkirk man who admitted thefts from two properties in the town has been jailed for 180 days at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Gary Stewart, 26, of Market Place, was also ordered to serve 90 days in prison as part of an unexpired previous sentence before the new jail term gets under way.

Stewart appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to the thefts of car keys from properties in Ettrick Terrace and Bemersyde Crescent on Saturday evening.

HAWICK MAN ON KNIFE CHARGE

A Hawick man has appeared in private at Selkirk Sheriff Court accused of damaging a bus while in possession of a knife.

It follows an incident in Galashiels on Friday.

James Jackson, 26, made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination.

He was granted bail by Sheriff Peter Paterson.

TEENAGER BAILED

A Selkirk teenager has appeared in private at the town’s sheriff court accused of having a knife during a disturbance on Friday night.

Philip McMillan, 19, of Back Row, also faces a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour during the incident in Selkirk.

He made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination.

The teenger was released on bail by Sheriff Peter Paterson.

BENEFITS FRAUD ALLEGATION

A Jedburgh man will stand trial at the town’s sheriff court on March 7 facing a benefits fraud charge involving more than £12,000.

Colin Holness, 55, of Grieve Avenue, is accused of claiming employment and support allowance of £6,368.98 and housing benefit of £6,801.56 to which he was not entitled.

It is alleged he failed to tell officials that his wife had started employment.

The offence is alleged to have been committed between February 2014 and January 2016.

Scottish Borders Council has agreed to give major new spending powers to the region’s five area forums.

These bodies, comprising local SBC elected members and community council representatives, will receive a share, based on population, of £500,000 – which will be distributed to the region’s five forums in the next financial year.

Forum spending decisions on community projects and improvements will be binding and not require further ratification by SBC.

The so-called “participatory budget” scheme was approved at today’s (Thursday) full council meeting.

It had been endorsed privately earlier this week by the ruling administration at Newtown St Boswells after it was confirmed that the local authority is to receive an extra £2.88m in revenue support from the Scottish Government in 2017/18.

Councillors agreed this morning that the bulk of that one-off windfall should be used to reduce the impact of spending cuts which were drawn up to address a previously announced £8.28m reduction in the annual grant from Holyrood.

It was thus agreed that a proposal from the administration to cut bus subsidies by £200,000 in the coming year should be scrapped.

In addition, a controversial move to cut SBC’s annual contribution to Live Borders, which runs libraries, museums, community centres and sports facilities, by over £200,000 was also ditched.

Proposed cuts of £350,000 in school libraries and outdoor education provision have been reduced by £220,000.

A further £512,000 has been added to the revenue budget for roads investment.

Councillors heard that, when capital spending was taken into account, over £13m would be spent on the region’s ailing roads network in the coming financial year.

The decision to fund area forums was another late addition to revised 2017/18 budget.

“We could have used all the extra resources to make further savings, but instead have opted for something which recognises the pressing need for our local communities to have real democratic power,” said Councillor Stuart Bell (SNP, Tweeddale East), executive member for economic development.

“It is one of my regrets that in the five years since I was elected many of our 69 community councils are in a fragile state. They feel powerless to effect real change on their patches and perceive area forums as mere talking shops.

“Participatory budgeting is a way for local people to have a direct say in how and where public funds can be used to address local needs.

“It also chimes with the objectives of the Community Empowerment [Scotland] Act to promote and facilitate the participation of members of the public in the decisions and activities of this council – including in the allocation of its resources.”

“It is the hope of the administration ahead of the May local elections that by devolving funding decisions in this way, our communities will be more engaged and energised.”

As expected, the council today (Thursday) approved increases in Council Tax after a nine-year freeze.

The new annual rates, from April 1, are as follows: Band A - £744.35; Band B - £868.40; Band C - £992.46; Band D - £1,116.52; Band E - £1,466.98; Band F - £1,814.35; Band G - £2,186.52; Band H - £2,735.47.

A Borders author has signed a film deal set to see her debut novel hit the Chinese cinema screens.

Claire McFall has proven to be a bestseller with her novel Ferryman in China, and she has just returned from a visit to the Far East to sign over the rights for a film version to Beijing Side Film.

Claire, 33, of Clovenfords, wrote Ferryman in 2011. It was published in 2013 and became a massive bestseller in China in 2015, selling close to a million copies.

She said: “It’s a good place to be popular as there’s a lot of people in China.

“It doesn’t seem real that my little Scottish book could go top of their fiction chart. I couldn’t believe it, and now it’s going to be a film. It is pretty awesome.”

Claire splits her time between writing, working as a part-time English at Peebles High School and being a mum to her two-year-old son with husband Chris Bowles.

However, in China, where readers have taken Ferryman’s tale of a Glasgow teenager’s journey through the afterlife straight to their hearts, Claire is becoming something of a celebrity.

“People were recognising me in Beijing and asking for photos. It’s so weird,” she said. “I think there are aspects of philosophy and mythology which the Chinese quite like, and that’s why it’s so popular over there.”

And that popularity looks only set to increase once the story hits the big screen.

Claire added: “The book lends itself to an animation, but we’ll have to wait and see.

“I would like to be involved as a consultant on the script, which they seem quite keen for – it was the first book I ever wrote, and it’s still my baby – plus, I’ve never been involved in a film before.”

Claire is now working on a sequel to Ferryman, due to be released in both the UK and China this September.

She has also been commissioned by her UK publisher, Floris Books, for a third book and admits that she hopes Ferryman could become a trilogy.

Ferryman is currently sitting third and second in the Dangdang and Jingdong fictions charts respectively, China’s largest two online booksellers, and recently it topped the country’s Amazon Kindle chart.

It achieved 100,000 sales within its first four months of release there, and the book continues to claim a place in the country’s fiction top 10 list almost two years on.

It also won a Scottish Children’s Book Award and was short listed for the Grampian Children’s Book Awards in 2015.

A Selkirk woman has called for dog walkers to be banned from cemeteries after finding faeces had been left on her family’s graves.

Jennifer Duncan Beaumont said that when she and her sister visited Shawfield cemetery to remove the Christmas wreaths from the graves of their mum, dad and sister, they were appalled at the amount of dog poo left on the graves.

She told us: “It is hurtful enough going up to our family’s graves without having to see and clean up dog poo.

“Something needs done about this, as they have no respect for the dead or their families.

“It is so disrespectful and disgusting ... and it’s getting worse.

“If you can’t clean up after your dog, you shouldn’t have one.

“And as far as cemeteries go, animals should be banned altogether.

“It’s a disgrace.”

The Southern Reporter took a look last week, and sure enough, there, on the second grave we passed, was a dog poo.

What was worse is that it was only 10m away from a litter bin.

The issue was also brought up at a Selkirk Community Council meeting last month.

During the meeting, Cath Henderson said she had been at former community council member Elsie Gibb’s funeral and was shocked at the amount of dog dirt left lying on the graves.

She said: “It was unbelievably shocking. I felt like apologising for Selkirk.

“It’s just as bad in the centre of the town – Halliwell’s Close, for instance, is particularly bad.”

At that meeting, Selkirkshire councillor Michelle Ballantyne urged people to take note of the project started by the people of St Boswells, who act as volunteer wardens, and patrol parks and streets, picking up dog poo and reporting offenders to the authorities.

Mrs Ballantyne added: “It takes a certain type of person to volunteer for something like this, but it works.”

Borders police are sending letters to the parents of all schoolchildren in Galashiels in a bid to raise awareness of increased levels of youth antisocial behaviour in the town.

The move is revealed in a report by divisional police commander Chief Superintendent Ivor Marshall for tomorrow’s meeting of the Scottish Borders Police, Fire and Safer Communities Board in Newtown.

The issue was also highlighted at last week’s meeting of Galashiels Community Council, when former policeman John Hazle, now a community councillor, said he had witnessed “disgusting behaviour” from pupils who drop litter on the street and put themselves in danger when crossing roads.

He said: “It is a disaster waiting to happen.”

Head teacher at the academy, Kevin Ryalls, replied: “We do try to make them aware of what is expected of them, and we will be talking to them again.”

CS Marshall explains that between April and December last year, his force dealt with 3,849 incidents of antisocial behaviour in the region – up by 134 (3.6%) on the corresponding period of 2015.

“Problems with youths, in particular in Galashiels and Hawick in December, have increased the number of reported incidents,” he states.

“Initiatives are in place to address these issues and a multi-agency approach is being pursued.

“Letters are being sent to parents, via the schools in Galashiels, to raise awareness of the current antisocial behaviour issues regarding youths in the area.

“We are also maintaining strong partnership links between our ASB unit and registered social landlords to ensure early and effective intervention.”

Board members will hear that the number of common assaults recorded in the region over the same period rose by 19 – from 575 to 594.

CS Marshall says this increase “can partly be attributed to incidents in the town centres of the main towns”, but he adds: “Continuing analysis show there is still no pattern to these offences regarding culprits or locations, with a percentage of recent assaults also being committed in private dwelling houses.”

He will also report that the number of “hate crimes” fell over the nine months by 18% from 66 to 54.

Most of these incidents (36) were race-related with the ethnicity of the majority of victims being described as “white European”.

The others were motivated by disability (seven incidents), homophobia (six), religious hatred (three), transgender (one) and gender (one).

Schools in the Borders have been awarded £1.8million by the Scottish Government as part of its drive to narrow the attainment gap.

It is part of £120million distributed nationwide from the pupil equity fund, which is hoped to support children in the poorest communities in the country.

The levels of funding vary widely across the region.

The secondary school receiving the largest award is Hawick High School, with £86,400, and the lowest amount of £27,600 goes to Jedburgh Grammar School.

Hawick is also the recipient of the biggest primary school award of £130,800 which goes to Burnfoot Community School – which was visited by first minister Nicola Sturgeon last year – with Langlee Primary School in Galashiels taking the second-highest, with a grant of £105,600, followed by Eyemouth Primary (90,000) and Edenside Primary in Kelso (72,000).

The funds have been distributed in accordance with the number of children in each school receiving free school meals.

How the money will be spent in each school will be decided by the head teachers and school leaders.

MSP Christine Grahame welcomed the annoucement, saying: “Every child in Scotland should have the best possible start in life, and it is unacceptable for children from the poorest backgrounds to have their chances limited by circumstances outside of their control.

“This funding is an important step in tackling the inter-generational cycle of deprivation in our schools.”

Her colleague, Paul Wheelhouse MSP, added: “The Scottish Government has made closing the educational attainment gap our number one priority for this Parliamentary session, given its importance for pupils’ life prospects as well as providing skills for the economy.

“Our new £120m pupil equity fund is aimed at doing just that, supporting schools across the Borders.

“This new announcement will let local parents, teachers and school leaders in the Borders see how much additional funding they can expect to receive to drive up standards and support local pupils achieve their full potential.”

A spokesperson for Scottish Borders Council said: “We welcome the announcement that pupils from across the Scottish Borders are due to benefit from £1,840,800 of Scottish Government funding which will be used by our headteachers as part of their ongoing commitment to raising attainment for pupils.”

More than 50 jobs will be created near Jedburgh after Scottish Borders Council cleared the way for the building of two whisky distilleries.

The application for the Mossburn and Jedhart distillery sites at the former Jed-Forest Hotel had been passed on to the Scottish Government following flooding concerns raised by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, as well as objections from neighbours who were worried about the water pressure on the natural springs, and Jedburgh businesses which stated it would take visitors out of the town.

However, the government’s planning office at the capital’s Victoria Quay stated on January 31 that they do not wish to intervene, allowing the council to approve the application.

The plans include the building of distilleries, a bottling plant, visitor centre and café.

SBC planning officer Euan Calvert, who was in support of the application, said in his assessment: “In short, this is a relatively unique proposal, certainly for the Scottish Borders, which represents a considerable investment into the region, and whose site specific requirements are acknowledged and not easily accommodated within existing employment land allocations.

“The nature of the development, in principle at least, justifies the choice of location, and provided that the detail of the scheme can address some of the challenges proposed by the rural location, it is considered that there is exceptional justification for the proposed development at this site in planning policy terms.”

Also in favour of the application was Douglas Wilson, regional director of VisitScotland, who wrote: “A distillery in this location would strengthen the visitor offer currently available in this area and also the wider Borders.

“The development would give a ‘reason to visit’ that currently doesn’t exist and it would complement the tourism offer already available in the region.”

Work is scheduled to start at the site later this year, after management plans are carried out with regards to the environment and any indiginous wildlife.

A man and woman had to be rescued from a top-floor flat in Galashiels after a fire broke out there in the early hours of Saturday.

It is understood that the blaze started in the Beech Avenue property’s kitchen, and firefighters were called out to tackle it at 3.39am.

An ambulance crew treated the pair at the scene after firefighters helped them out of the building using breathing apparatus.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called at 3.39am on Saturday, February 4, with reports of a fire at a flat in Beech Avenue, Galashiels.

“Two fire appliances from Galashiels fire station attended and put out the fire.

“Two casualties were checked over at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service. Crews left the scene at 4am after ensuring the area was safe.”

A group of 20 Borderers are celebrating after becoming the first graduates of Spark Energy’s newly-opened Spark Academy in Selkirk.

The team of account managers will now handle enquiries at Spark Energy’s contact centre as part of the company’s expanding customer service department.

The academy aims to train new employees who live within 10-miles of the company’s Ettrick Riverside-based headquarters.

Its graduates have since taken part in three-week long training courses carried out by an award winning training team, some of whom are accredited by the Institute of Customer Services, the leading industry body with whom the electricity and gar supplier has worked since 2014.

John Hawkins, Spark Energy’s director of people and culture, set up the academy to allow staff to achieve additional skills and qualifications through the Institute of Customer Service.

He said: “Congratulations to each of the twenty employees who have successfully completed their induction training in the Spark Academy.

“Recruiting and up-skilling people is a core element of our business which wouldn’t exist if we didn’t provide excellent customer service.

“As part of this we’re also fully committed to the Borders and are extremely proud to create jobs which support young people while increasing economic growth in the region.

“The company is an excellent place to work, with many avenues for progression, attractive perks and a rewarding benefits package so as we continue to recruit, I’d advise anyone who is looking for a new challenge, whether part of full-time, to check our website for vacancies.”

Through its new academy, the company is ensuring its new employees are well-trained as well as to increase the skills of those currently employed by delivering in-house training and development. The company has also been developing links with local and national skills and employment programmes.

MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk Calum Kerr said: “Spark Energy have demonstrated an impressive commitment to our region and a clear understanding that the Borders is an excellent place to do business.

“With the company still recruiting and offering high quality training to many of its existing staff, employers like Spark are exactly what our region needs. Over the years we’ve become all too familiar with young people having to leave to find work and opportunities elsewhere: so it’s great to see these trainees start out on new careers – and have the chance to develop them – right here in the Borders.

“I’d like to congratulate all of the graduates of this scheme and commend Spark Energy for investing in the skills of our young people – the most vital asset that we have.”

The company was initially set up in Edinburgh back in 2007 before moving to the Ettrick Riverside location a year later. However, the training centre was officially opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon just last November when it was announced that the energy supplier would be creating 69 new jobs.

At the time of opening the academy, Ms Sturgeon said Spark is a “fantastic company” that has “got a big emphasis on training their staff, looking after their staff, looking after their wellbeing and using that not just to the benefit of staff but to improve customer service as well,”

It is hoped that additional jobs at the company will take the total staff number to over 400.

The team are encouraging people to apply for vacancies via the company website. Applications may be made at https://sparkenergy.co.uk/careers.

Those who graduated are Nathaniel Kotkin-Smith of Selkirk, Euan Pringle of Tweedbank, Marika Walkowiak of Hawick, Jamie Mitchell of Galashiels, Lisa Sharkey of Hawick Jamie Grieve of Selkirk Emma Cavaroli of Ettrick Bridge, Nikki Alexander of Selkirk, Pierce Solley of Hawick, Jane Braithwaite of Gala, Robin Sapkota of Selkirk, Eva Thomson of Kelso, Matthew Scott of Newtown St Boswells, Morgan Stewart of Denholm, Jamie G Mitchell of Gala, Chris Stansfield of Selkirk, Mark Brebner of Gala, Louise Renwick of Hawick and Shaun Wilson of Selkirk.

Potential Scottish paedophiles tempted to look at indecent images of children online have been visiting a special website to help them change their behaviour.

More than 1,500 people from Scotland visited the Stop it Now! Get Help website last year for help to stop either their own viewing of online sexual images of children, or that of a loved one.

Over the same 12-month period, a further 78 men from Scotland called the Stop it Now! phoneline to get help to stop viewing sexual images of children online.

Run by child protection charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, the website and helpline offer self-help tools and resources to help users address their behaviour and stop looking at online sexual images of children.

It also provides information and support to partners and friends of people arrested for, or suspected of, accessing online child abuse images.

John Hawkins, Assistant Chief Constable for Scotland, said: “Police Scotland is determined to work with our statutory partners, with support services and importantly with our communities to do all we can to eliminate child sexual abuse.

“Changing offender behaviour is a vitally important element of this work. ‘Stop it Now’ provides abusers and potential abusers troubled by their sexual thoughts regarding children access to support. In turn this can help them to manage their thoughts and behaviour.

“Vitally, the service also provides other adults with advice and support when they have concerns about the online behaviour of others. I would encourage anyone who has sexual thoughts regarding children to contact ‘Stop it Now’ – child sexual abuse is preventable.”

The 78 calls from Scotland to the charity’s Edinburgh office make up five per cent of the 1,504 calls received from across the UK in 2016.

A further 28 adults, mainly wives or parents, also called to express their concerns about the online behaviour of another adult.

The figures come at a time when the police are reporting an escalation, across the UK, in online viewing and sharing of child abuse images.

In 2013 the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) estimated that as many as 50,000 individuals in the UK were involved in downloading or sharing sexual images of children .

But in a BBC television interview in October 2016 Chief Constable Simon Bailey, National Police Chiefs Council lead for child protection, said that at least 100,000 people in the UK were now regularly viewing online sexual images of children.

Stuart Allardyce, Stop it Now! Scotland director, said: “Stop it Now! Scotland has worked with hundreds of men arrested for viewing sexual images of children.

“For many, being arrested was a real wake-up call. Many knew what they were doing was wrong, but struggled to change their behaviour on their own. That’s where our work comes in.

“We make sure these men understand the harm they have caused the children in these images, and also the serious consequences for them and their families if they don’t get to grips with their online behaviour. Once they understand this, they become far less likely to reoffend.”