The swimming pool at Teviotdale Leisure Centre in Hawick is closed until further notice due to a supplier issue.

Live Borders, which operates the pool, closed the pool on Wednesday evening and says the facility will remain closed until further notice due to an “unforeseen supplier issue”.

Live Borders Property Manager, Paul Cowan, said the closure was part of a nationwide shortage of CO2.

“Live Borders along with many others are affected by the shortage where the likes of hospitals are currently taking priority,” he said.

“We are working hard to resolve these issues and also looking at alternate methods to ensure our pools are safe for the public and our staff, as well as getting them reopen as soon as possible.

“We are awaiting a delivery of CO2 which will allow us to reopen the pool soon after.

“We apologise to our members and other pool users who will be affected by this closure and for the inconvenience that this may cause.”

Live Borders also confirmed no other pools have been affected by this shortage as yet and that the Teviotdale Leisure Centre gym remains open as normal.

In the meantime swimmers can head to Laidlaw Memorial Pool in Jedburgh, Kelso Swimming Pool, Selkirk Leisure Centre and Galashiels Swimming Pool.

The pool remained closed at time of going to press. Further updates at www.liveborders.org.uk.

Here’s your chance to relive one of the best Gala Days in recent years ... by going through the catalogue of photos from our man Alwyn Johnston.

Saturday’s excellent weather brought the crowds out in droves, the river was low enough to cross for the first time in a while, the family-oriented entertainment in the Bank Street Gardens was extremely popular and, of course, Braw Lad Greg Kelly and Braw Lass Kimberley O’May proved to be excellent ambassadors for their town.

Read the report and watch the video by clicking here.

Click on the photo or the link above to enter the gallery and have a Braw old time!

Health chiefs in the Borders expect to need an emergency loan of beween £11m and £13.2m to balance their books this financial year.

That financial deficit was revealed last week in the Scottish Parliament by then health secretary Shona Robison, since replaced by Jeane Freeman.

NHS Borders is one of four health boards nationwide needing Scottish Government brokerage loans to stay afloat.

Although the funding gap identified by the trust is expected to be lower than the £13.2m currently estimated, it is still expected to be in excess of £11m come next spring.

The other trusts seeking financial help are NHS Tayside, NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Highland.

Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP John Lamont believes that shortfall, totalling almost £71m between the four boards, highlights a lack of investment by Holyrood.

He said: “The Scottish Government have repeatedly claimed that everything is fine at NHS Borders and they are getting the funding they need.

“These figures confirm the opposite to be true.

“The fact that NHS Borders has had to go to the Scottish Government, cap in hand, to ask for £13m just to run day-to-day services, is a scandal.”

Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP Rachael Hamilton added: “It’s a worrying financial position for NHS Borders to be faced with.

“The Scottish Government should support NHS Borders to put them on a sound financial footing with measures such as proper workforce planning so that they don’t have to rely so much on expensive agency staff costs.

“It’s clear that the Scottish Government have not understood the needs of a rural health board like NHS Borders.”

An NHS Borders spokesperson said: “Until this year, our finances have been managed within budget.

“It has become more challenging over time and more difficult to find sufficient efficiencies or savings to cover the level of inflation and cost pressures that we have to meet.

“Our 2018-19 financial plan now outlines £13.3m of savings to be delivered. However, there is still a substantial gap of £11.5m, and we continue to work hard to reduce this deficit further.”

Ms Freeman, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, said: “There is rising demand on our NHS, with increased expectations and an ageing population, so it is crucial we have a transparent and open approach to finances.

“I expect all health boards to continue to develop their plans and work towards delivering a balanced financial position over the course of the remaining financial year while ensuring they provide safe and effective care and deliver best value for money.”

Planning approval is being sought for 38 new homes in Lauder.

Land to the north of Thirlestane Drive is being disposed of by its joint owners, Scottish Borders Council and Edward Maitland-Carew, also owner of nearby Thirlestane Castle.

The site had originally been earmarked for a new school back in 2004, but nothing ever came of that plan.

A spokesperson for the developer, Bathgate-based Persimmon Homes East Scotland, said the proposal’s aim is to “provide a sustainable development, including a mix of housing types and tenures within a high-quality landscaping setting”.

The plan is for 38 two-storey houses, including a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom properties.

The land is surrounded by existing housing on all sides apart from a narrow southern section boundary, where a vehicle access is proposed.

To the north is a mixture of mainly traditional homes along Factors Park and Wyndhead.

A public consultation over the plans was staged in April at Lauder Public Hall, and the majority of residents attending were said to be “relatively supportive” of the plans.

However, some concerns were raised over the lack of educational capacity in the town, with Lauder Primary School currently operating at full capacity.

Further concerns were also raised at the potential for increased traffic and parking in the area, given the number of properties proposed.

A council reports says: “Concerns were also raised over the footpaths which lead to Factors Park.

“It was thought they may be unsafe as many people will be exiting private driveways along this road, making the road unsafe to walk out onto.

“There is no footway on this road and it is on a corner.

“There are many children around, and concerns were raised that it will be unsafe to have more pedestrians walking along this way.

“However, the applicant will seek consultee advice on this matter through the application process, and if there are legitimate safety concerns, then the link can be removed from the proposals.

“Traffic concerns were raised as it was thought by some there would be a significant traffic increase because of the number of houses.

“Parking is seen as an ongoing problem for some residents in the adjacent development, with parking spilling onto the main street.

“Several attendees were of the view that Lauder village centre has very limited parking and is always congested.

“Concerns were raised on how it will cope with the extra traffic cause by the new development.

“A transport statement has been prepared which confirms that the surrounding road network is able to accommodate the additional traffic generated by the site.”

If agreed, the development would include a 25% provision for affordable housing.

Work is now under way on a £200,000 project to improve off-road tracks around Traquair House near Innerleithen.

The Forestry Commission last month approved a management plan paving the way for major access improvements over the next two years, and it is now being put into action.

Catherine Maxwell Stuart, laird of Traquair, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the path network is taking shape at last.

“It has been a long-held desire to make Traquair more accessible by foot and particularly for local people to take advantage of the woodlands around Traquair which have previously been difficult to access.

“The new views that are being opened up with the new footpaths are really breathtaking. We are looking forward to making the dream become a reality.”

Preparatory work has taken place over the last year in the form of the felling of three woodlands and the thinning of two others to make way for the planned paths, expected to take 18 months to complete.

They include a raised decking pathway to link the pavement from Innerleithen to the mountain bike car park, 3,800m of paths including links to Traquair Village and Traquair House, a high-level link to the Southern Upland Way and a range of themed interpretation boards and picnic benches.

The project will make 32 hectares of woodland more accessible to the public.

Go to www.traquair.co.uk to keep up to date with progress on the paths.

A bid to tackle social exclusion and loneliness in Lauder is being backed by community leaders.

Scottish Borders Council has received a planning application from Lauderdale Community Council to set up a men’s shed in a portable cabin at Lauder Leisure Centre’s car park in Factors Park.

The community facility would be open to both men and women over the age of 55 to take part in woodworking and other skills and to enjoy some companionship.

The bid has the support of the Reverend Rae Clark, minister at Channelkirk and Lauder Parish Church, and she said: “As a parish minister, I frequently engage with a range of individuals who would benefit from such a resource being available locally, and I have no hesitation in referring them to the Lauderdale Community Shed.”

Paul Cormie, a doctor at Stow and Lauder Health Centre, added: “We know that social isolation and loneliness has a negative impact on people’s health, and men can often find it find it more difficult than women to make new friends and contacts after bereavement, retirement or ill health.

“A men’s shed in Lauder would significantly contribute to reducing loneliness and isolation for these men, who are often older, and therefore reduce the impact of this on their mental and physical health.”

The planning application also has the support of council convener and Leaderdale and Melrose councillor David Parker.

He said: “The group are working well with other voluntary groups in the community, and the project will certainly give Lauder a fantastic community resource if it can come to fruition.

“Community sheds are now making a valuable contribution to many communities, and, as well as promoting crafting and other activities, they are a vital resource to improve wellbeing and skills and reduce loneliness.”

Local newspapers are the first to point the finger of blame when councils or other bodies start to charge you more or fail to inform you of price hikes.

It’s only right and proper then that we apply the same rules and scrutiny to ourselves.

As of today, the price of the Southern Reporter has gone up by 10p to £1.30, but, due to a production error, we failed to let you, our readers, know in advance or on the day in our print edition, and for that we apologise.

Such increases are rarely pleasing, for readers or reporters, and this is not a decision we take lightly.

We are a small, hard-working team doing our utmost to create a lively, informative read.

We are here to give you the local news as it happens, to challenge those in authority on your behalf, to campaign against unfairness and to stand up for everyone and everything that makes the Borders such a special part of the world.

We provide an excellent what’s on and leisure guide to ensure you don’t miss out on the best local entertainment.

Our advertising covers everything from homes for sale to cars, job opportunities and bargains in the shops.

We believe it is a tremendous weekly package and, even at £1.30, represents superb value for money.

Without advertising, this newspaper would cost you several pounds for each edition. Fortunately, our advertisers subsidise that figure, but in a digital age that subsidy has reduced.

At the same time, the physical cost of printing this paper is rising rapidly.

The cost of newsprint alone is increasing by up to 12% as a result of the fall in the value of the pound, a considerable annualised sum for all publishers.

A large number of local newspapers across the UK have already brought in substantial price rises, so at £1.30 the Southern is cheaper than many, especially when you consider the size of our paper.

A price rise will help to cover the rising costs of production, of providing quality journalism and it will safeguard against fluctuations in the advertising market.

It’s still two years until the Great Tapestry of Scotland arrives in Galashiels, but it’s already inspiring Borders youngsters to produce artworks of their own.

Children across the Borders have been coming up with ideas for a welcome panel at the new £6.7m visitor destination being built in the town centre to house the tapestry.

Construction of the centre is due to begin in October, and it is expected to open in 2020.

Scottish Borders Council asked schools to suggest themes to be incorporated into a welcome sign being produced by artist Andrew Crummy and historian Alistair Moffat.

A panel of judges including Mr Crummy, Mr Moffat and Susie Finlayson, one of more than 1,000 stitchers involved in producing the tapestry, plus representatives of Live Borders and the council, has now shortlisted six designs to be consulted.

The commended entries were those submitted by Edenside Primary in Kelso, Sprouston Primary, Galashiels Academy, St Mary’s School in Melrose, Glendinning Primary in Galashiels and a joint effort by Heriot and Fountainhall’s primaries.

Galashiels councillor Euan Jardine, the council’s executive member for culture and sport, said: “This event was an example of how the tapestry can inspire young people to think about the fantastic culture, art, heritage and history we have in the Borders.”

“The finalists all worked incredibly hard to produce some brilliant designs which will give Andrew Crummy plenty to work with to create a striking new welcome panel for the visitor centre.”

“The Great Tapestry of Scotland is an integral element of the new national visitor destination being built in Galashiels, which will create fantastic educational facilities for schools in the Scottish Borders.

Mr Crummy said: “All the entries were fantastic in different ways.

“The ethos of the Great Tapestry of Scotland is helping each other, and it is clear that is what the pupils did as part of their designs.

“It is also great to see pupils learn more about the area they live in through this project. It is clear they are proud of the Scottish Borders.

“This was a really exciting project, and I think the pupils have opened up a fantastic treasure box of ideas.”

Ewan Jackson, chief executive of Live Borders, the trust that will run the visitor centre, in Channel Street and High Street, added: “We very much enjoyed being part of the judging process, and it was fantastic to see so much creativity from schools across the region. It will be brilliant to see their designs come to fruition.

“Education will be an important and central part of the Great Tapestry of Scotland offering, so it’s great to see schools involved at this early stage in the project.”

Want to find out more about the progress being made on the tapestry visitor centre? See here ...

www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/demolition-of-galashiels-store-clears-way-for-regeneration-1-4756134
www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/consultant-scores-hat-trick-of-contracts-for-tapestry-project-1-4643303
www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/work-set-to-start-on-galashiels-home-for-great-tapestry-of-scotland-next-spring-1-4638470
www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/plans-go-in-for-tapestry-centre-1-4566430
www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/ministers-agree-to-foot-more-than-half-bill-for-6-7m-galashiels-tapestry-centre-1-4704725

Police officers had to use CS spray to subdue a 45-year-old man involved in a violent disturbance at his remote Peeblesshire home.

Brian Thomson’s wife called the Scottish Ambulance Service at 1.30am due to her concerns about his behaviour.

The police accompanied them and when they arrived at the house in Kilbucho, near Broughton, they heard shouting and swearing.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told the officers tried to engage with the self-employed fence constructor as they entered a bedroom strewn with broken items, but he continued shouting and swearing agitatedly and challenged them to fight.

Thomson grappled with the police and eventually the four officers trying to restrain him sprayed CS gas in his eyes.

Thomson was arrested at 2.40am and taken to the Borders General Hospital at Melrose to be checked over.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and also struggling violently with police.

Defence lawyer Mary Harrower explained that his client suffered a shoulder injury two years ago and became addicted to painkillers.

He had admitted taking some cocaine on June 1, resulting in him having a psychotic episode.

Sheriff Mark Thorley said the incident involving the police was significant but deferred sentence for six months for good behaviour.

The case will recall at Selkirk Sheriff Court on December 17.

Background reports have been ordered on an Innerleithen man involved in an altercation with the police.

Scott Ewart, 26, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour at his Millar Street home on May 28 and also at the Borders General Hospital at Melrose.

During a disturbance, he barricaded himself into a room in the house and ended up struggling violently with police constables.

Ewart remained disruptive at the hospital, striking the handcuffs he was wearing against the wall.

Ewart also admitted a second charge of assaulting a police constable by spitting in his face.

Sentence was deferred for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report until July 30.

A shepherd assaulted his partner, then drove away in a car with a child while almost double the legal alcohol limit, Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard.

George Wylie, 48, of Cranshaws, near Duns, had a breath-alcohol reading of 43 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22, when police responding to the assault claims breathalysed him.

The court was told his 19-year-old partner had threatened to leave him after he came home from working at lambing under the influence of alcohol.

During a bust-up, he seized her by the hair and repeatedly kicked her to the body.

Wylie then drove off to a friend’s house a mile away with a five-month-old child, claiming he wanted to take the baby to a place of safety.

He was fined £270 and disqualified from the road for a year for drink-driving.

In addition, he was ordered to carry out 90 hours’ unpaid work for the assault and wilfully exposing a child to unnecessary suffering while under the influence of alcohol.

A bank manager has been fined £1,350 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for assaulting his then partner after discovering she was cheating on him with other men.

Brian Coats got involved in a heated argument with the woman at her home in Chirnside after accessing her mobile phone and finding messages from other lovers.

He pleaded guilty to striking her to the face, pushing her to the body, causing her to fall onto a bed, grabbing her by the throat and pinning her up against a window, all to her injury, on April 24.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said the relationship was now over.

The 36-year-old Bank of Scotland boss, of Mayfield, near Dalkeith, Midlothian, had his fine reduced from £1,500 to £1,350 due to his guilty plea.

A man made threats to neighbours after they complained to the police about the noise he was making.

Jordan Cunningham pleaded guilty to a statutory breach of the peace in Gala Park, Galashiels, on April 25.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told Selkirk Sheriff Court that the 23-year-old had moved in with his brother and complaints were made about noise coming from the flat.

When Cunningham saw the neighbours, said to be in their teens, walking along the street, he approached them, swearing and pointing and asking why they had phoned the police.

Mr Fraser said the couple were left visibly shaken by Cunningham’s behaviour.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow accepted that a crime had been committed but suggested it was at the lower end of the scale.

He added: “He knows it should not have happened.”

Mr Dow said there had been no further problems since Cunningham had moved to a new address in Church Square, Galashiels.

Sentence was deferred until September 24 for good behaviour.

A teenager has been sent to a young offenders’ institution for 16 months for breaching a community payback order.

Colin Adamson, 19, was given a custodial sentence instead at Selkirk Sheriff Court for a series of offences including assaults in Galashiels and Hawick and smashing a window at the Royal Mail office in Selkirk.

All those offences dated back to 2016.

Sheriff Mark Thorley told Adamson, of Sunnyside Street, Edinburgh: “There comes a point when there is no alternative to a custodial sentence. You have been given every opportunity.”

Following several complaints over the state of Scott St in Galashiels, the road is to be resurfaced in two stages, beginning at the end of July.

The street will be closed during the day to allow the significant resurfacing improvements to take place, between Monday, July 30 and Friday, August 10.

Phase one will see works take place from the junction of St John Street to immediately before the junction with Balmoral Place, from Monday, July 30 to Friday, August 3, while phase two will see the section from Balmoral Place to Roxburgh Place resurfaced Monday to Friday, August 6-10.

Road closures

Each section of the street will be closed 8.30am to 5pm while the works take place in these locations, but it will be fully open for Saturday and Sunday, August 4 and 5.

Diversions will be in place during each phase and pedestrian access maintained at all times. However, several surrounding streets will see parking restrictions from 8am to 5pm during the works. Parking restrictions will apply where no waiting cones are in place.

Access to Galashiels Swimming Pool and the Focus Centre will be maintained when possible, but only via Livingstone Place.

Staff will be on-site to assist with traffic, while local businesses and residents will be informed in writing, in advance of the works.

In addition, pavement and drainage works will take place from Monday, July 9, for three weeks on a section of Scott Street, with temporary traffic lights in place. Pedestrian access will be maintained to businesses and homes, although delays are expected.

Buses

The town service 54 will be affected by the closures. From Monday, July 30 to Friday, August 3, between 8.30am and 5pm, the service will operate the normal route to Meigle Street, and Victoria Street to Scott Street and then via Gala Park to St John Street and its normal route to the Transport Interchange.

The following week, between 8.30am and 5pm, the same bus will operate the normal route to Gala Park then run via Victoria Street, Thistle Street left into Meigle Street then back on its normal route from Balmoral Avenue to Victoria Street.

The route back to the Transport Interchange will be via Kirk Brae, Hall Street, Island Street and Bridge Place

Bin collections

The council’s waste service is prepared to set up alternative arrangements to ensure there is minimal disruption for household bin collections in the Scott Street area during the resurfacing programme, but remind households to have their bins ready to pick up by 7am on collection day.

Why is it being resurfaced?

Scott Street was identified as one of 32 key routes across the Borders requiring improvements, as part of a £2.6million resurfacing programme this year.

The programme is predominantly funded by an additional £1.8m investment announced as part of SBC’s budget in February 2018 to target road repairs across the region in 2018/19.

SBC has also committed to investing over £22m in roads and bridges over the next three years, with £79m planned investment over the next 10 years.

Councillor Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, said: “These resurfacing works on Scott Street will be welcomed by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians in Galashiels.

“There will inevitably be disruption as a result, but the council has made a real effort to minimise this by opening the road at nights and during the weekend, maintaining access to the swimming pool and Focus Centre and having staff on site to assist the public where necessary.

“We have also been in discussions with trunk road operator Amey to make sure our works take place right at the start of the Galafoot Bridge improvement programme.

“We would ask local people and commuters to play their part and give themselves a bit extra time for their journeys during the resurfacing programme.”

A charity is warning of fraudulent collections after discovering its logo is being used on unauthorised clothes recycling bags.

Meningitis Now is aware of collections taking place in parts of Scotland – and is urging the public not to make donations in this way.

The bags are designed for people to donate their unwanted clothes, shoes, and other items, which are then collected at the roadside, often to raise money for charity.

However, Meningitis Now does not raise funds through schemes such as these, and there is no agreement in place with any company to collect unwanted goods on its behalf.

It says it is not the only charity affected by this, as its logo sits alongside other charities on the fraudulent bags, including bibic, which supports children and young people with disabilities and learning difficulties.

Stephen Service, policy manager at the Fundraising Regulator, said: “While many clothing collections are legitimate, charity bag fraud is an increasingly common problem which makes victims of donors and charities alike. If in doubt, check with your local council directly before you give to ensure the collection is licensed.”

Dr Tom Nutt, CEO at Meningitis Now, said: “Sadly, this is an issue that affects the wider charity sector, not just Meningitis Now.

“Charities rely on the generosity of public donations to help keep vital services running – at Meningitis Now this means ensuring that everyone affected by meningitis gets the support they need to rebuild their lives.

“I would like to make it clear that these bags are fraudulent and nothing to do with Meningitis Now. Please do not make any donations in this way.

“We are working together with other charities and the charity regulator to minimise the impact that this type of behaviour has on the charity sector as a whole.”

Lynda Williams, CEO at bibic, added: “We are extremely disappointed to learn of the continued fraudulent use of the bibic brand.

“To falsely claim to be changing the lives of children with disabilities and learning difficulties is disgraceful, and I urge anyone that receives a bag purporting to support bibic and Meningitis Now to follow the advice from the fundraising regulator.”

Anyone with any doubts about the use of the Meningitis Now logo can check with the charity by call 01453 768000, or via its Facebook page

The charity would also like to remind its generous supporters that there are other, safer ways, to make donations, in particular via the Meningitis Now website

For more information about bibic visit the website bibic website or call 01458 253344.

A body has been found in the search for a missing 26-year-old Melrose woman.

Leonora Harper-Gow was last seen in the town at 8pm on Saturday, June 16 and was reported missing the following day.

There were no sightings of Leonora, also known as Blaze, after that time despite police appeals and searches involving both police and Leonora’s family and friends.

Police had believed she may have travelled to Edinburgh by train.

However, a Police Scotland spokesman said today: “Police in the Scottish Borders can confirm that a woman’s body has been recovered as part of the ongoing search for Leonora Harper Gow.

“Officers made the discovery at around 7pm on Tuesday, July 3 within a wooded area near to Melrose.

“No formal identification of the body has taken place at this time, however, Leonora’s family have been informed and will be kept fully updated.”

The progress of a family farm near Hawick trying to improve its efficiency and profitability as part of a monitor farm programme will be highlighted during an open day it is hosting next Wednesday (2pm).

Whitriggs Farm, Denholm, was announced as a monitor farm in December 2016.

Now half-way through the three-year programme, it is opening its gates to let anyone with an interest in livestock farming learn more about what has been done so far to improve the management of the business.

Lesley Mitchell, who farms in partnership with her husband Robert and son Stuart, with support from Stuart’s brother, Alistair, in busy periods, said: “The support of the management group and community group has given us the confidence to make changes to how we do things, introduce new enterprises and improve existing ones.”

At next week’s event, which is free to attend and open to all, the Mitchells will highlight the changes they have made to their business so far and their plans for the next 18 months.

Together with neighbouring Denholm Hill Farm, the Mitchell family own 442 hectares of mainly semi-permanent and permanent grassland, growing approximately 40 hectares of winter wheat and oats for feeding their stock. They have 155 suckler cows which are a combination of Beef Shorthorn cross and Aberdeen Angus cross.

To book your attendance on July 11 (and place at the barbecue), contact Stephen Young on 07502 339613 or email stephen.young@saos.coop

The A68 Jedburgh to Newcastle road is closed in both directions following a serious road traffic collision near Glendouglas.

The road was closed around 5.45pm this evening, and is expected to remain shut between Jedburgh and Carter Bar for some time.

Diversions are in place via Oxnam and the Bairnkine.

Traffic Scotland has described the accident as serious and are urging drivers to avoid the area if possible.

A Hawick hardware store has bounced back from being on the brink of closure to taking on more staff as it looks to the future it didn’t think it would get to see.

It was with a heavy heart that company boss Brian Ferguson announced in May that there was no alternative but to shut Wright’s Home Hardware shop in Sandbed this summer.

The shop has been a retail stalwart in the town since it opened back in 1983, so when word spread of the store’s closure plans, it prompted an extraordinary public response.

Mr Ferguson said that on hearing the news the “wonderful of people of Hawick” began to offer their support in their droves, leading to a 40% increase in year-on-year sales for May.

That support has led to the shop’s closure plan being reversed, and it will now stay open until at least the end of the year, with hopes high that its long-term future can be secured.

New promotions and products and a 10%-off loyalty card are being planned.

The shop will retain a staff of six, made up of three full-timers and three part-timers.

Though two of the former are leaving, a recruitment drive has been launched to replace them.

Mr Ferguson said: “It has given us renewed hope that we can turn things around and try to keep the shop open for as long as we can.

“We have been overwhelmed by the kind messages we have received from our customers and saddened by the many locals who have told us how much they are going to miss us being in the town.

“Many locals rely on our free local delivery service for orders over £25 for heavy items such as compost and garden machinery in the spring and summer and coal, logs and heaters in the winter months, a service not offered by many of the bigger retailers or at a high cost.

“We have decided to keep the shop open until the end of the year at the very least to see if, with the continued support of the local community, we can turn things around on a more permanent basis and hopefully keep the shop going for a lot longer.”

Mr Ferguson revealed that the original closure decision came after the outlet’s rates had increased by 17.6% in the last couple of years.

He said: “That has had a big impact on our profitability. We currently have a rates appeal in with the council, but we are yet to hear anything back regarding that. However, we have had discussions with councillors and Business Gateway to see if there is any help they can give us, and things sound promising that there may be some support to help us survive.

“In order to give this our best shot and opportunity for success, we are going to have to make some changes to the day-to-day running of the shop which will hopefully secure the jobs of our great staff members who have been so wonderful during this tough time.

“We will now be closing at 5pm rather than 5.30pm as the shop is very quiet between these times, with effect from August 1.

“We have also restructured our weekly staff rota, and I’m delighted to say that all of our part-time staff have agreed to the new rota and are happy with their new hours.

“Our manager and assistant manager, however, have decided to take their redundancy package to pursue other avenues.

“We will have two management positions available, so if you are interested in a new challenge and have retail experience please follow us on Facebook @wrightshhhawick, where these vacancies are currently being advertised.

“We will also be running some new initiatives to try and bring new customers though our doors and to offer even more value and services to our wonderful regular customers.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful Hawick community for giving our family-run business such wonderful support at this tough time and since we opened in the town in 1983.

“Wright’s Home Hardware has 10 stores. The first opened in Prestwick in 1947 and the latest opened in Largs in 2016.

“We have never had to close a store, and we really hope Hawick is not the first.”