A man has admitted assaulting his partner by throwing a hot drink over her and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a house in Hawick’s Gladstone Street on March 28.

Paul Richardson, 44, of Hamilton Road, Hawick, also pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to driving a car away without the consent of its owner, having no insurance and failing to telling police the identity of the driver of a car.

He denied a charge of drink-driving by having a breath-alcohol count of 34 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22, however.

Sentence was deferred until the outcome of a trial on the drink-driving count due to take place on Tuesday, October 2.

Three days have been set aside for the trial of two Borders huntsmen accused of breaching fox-hunting legislation.

Buccleuch Hunt members Timothy Allen, 40, and Shaun Anderson, 28, are charged with deliberately hunting a fox with a pack of dogs.

That offence is alleged to have been committed on land surrounding Whitton Farm, near Morebattle, on December 20.

The pair, both of Eildon, near Melrose, pleaded not guilty at an intermediate trial diet held at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Their trial is due to get under way next month, starting on Monday, October 8.

It is understood that film evidence submitted by investigators from the League Against Cruel Sports will be shown at the trial.

The case is the latest challenge to the 2002 Protection of Wild Mammals Act recently subject to a review by Lord Bonomy.

Father and son John Clive Richardson, 67, and Johnny Riley, 24, became, in June last year, the first members of a mounted hunt to be successfully prosecuted since the act was introduced north of the Border.

The Jed Forest Hunt members were filmed by investigators from the League Against Cruel Sports, and following eight days of evidence, sheriff Peter Paterson ruled that in two incidents Richardson and Riley were in breach of the act and found them guilty of deliberately hunting a fox with dogs.

Riley was fined £400 at Selkirk Sheriff Court and Richardson, described as having a lesser role, was fined £250.

A motorist was found to be three times the legal alcohol limit for driving when breathalysed six hours after being involved in an accident, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Craig Robertson, 27, of Provost Melrose Place, Peebles, was banned from driving for 19 months and fined £300 after pleading guilty to a drink-driving offence.

He admitted driving in Currie Road and Glenfield Road East in Galashiels with a breath-alcohol count of 66 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22, on January 14.

The court was told he had been at a social gathering and had driven to a supermarket but his vehicle left the road and ended up in a garden.

Robertson was also fined £200 for failing to report an accident to the police within 24 hours.

On top of that, he was fined £150 for assaulting his partner at a house in Forest View, Peebles, on June 12.

Assaulting his partner resulted in a £250 fine for a 53-year-old man at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Trevor Bellingham struck her several times to the face after an argument broke out between the pair over him losing his job.

That offence was committed at their home in Galabank Street, Galashiels, on January 28, the court heard.

A man has been banned from driving for two years after a rarely-used defence claiming he was not responsible for being under the influence of drugs was rejected at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

John Tunnicliffe, 53, was spotted slumped over the steering wheel of his car outside a chemist’s shop in Channel Street, Galashiels, while the town centre was busy with children attending a Christmas parade.

He failed manual drug tests at Galashiels police station, and toxicology reports showed he had traces of prescribed drugs in his system.

Tunnicliffe was subsequently charged with driving while unfit through drink or drugs on the afternoon of December 2.

He lodged a special defence of non-insane automatism claiming he was not conscious of his actions due to medication.

Giving evidence, Tunnicliffe claimed that his coffee had been spiked with prescribed drugs by a woman staying at his Hawthorn Road home in Galashiels earlier that day.

Tunnicliffe said he felt fit to drive at around 3pm, but he suddenly felt drowsy outside the chemist’s shop while waiting for another woman to pick up her methadone prescription, and that was when he was spotted slumped over the steering wheel.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser pointed out that Tunnicliffe was able to recall the procedures carried out at Galashiels police station in great detail and described his defence as a “tissue of lies”.

Sheriff Peter Paterson agreed and rejected Tunnicliffe’s defence.

In addition to being disqualified for two years, he was fined £250.

A 31-year-old has been accused of sexually assaulting another man in a Jedburgh pub.

Kris Scott, of Forthill Avenue, Jedburgh, is charged with putting his hand inside the man’s trousers and seizing hold of his private parts.

That offence is alleged to have been committed at the Carter’s Rest, in Abbey Place, on October 24.

He pleaded not guilty to that charge.

A trial date has been fixed for October 4 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

A motorcyclist found to be double the legal alcohol limit for driving has been banned from the road for 16 months and fined £200 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

James Forrest had earlier taken unwell and collapsed in Lidl supermarket in Kelso.

An off-duty police officer alerted his colleagues, and police were waiting for the 53-year-old when he returned to his home in Woodbank Road in Town Yetholm on the morning of August 15.

He was found to have a breath-alcohol count of 44 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser explained: “What had happened was that the accused had been reported by an off-duty police officer who said he had collapsed in the Lidl supermarket in Kelso.

“Police officers went to his address, and when he arrived, he was found to be twice the alcohol limit.”

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client had been listening to a football match on the radio the previous night and had consumed six cans of lager.

He said: “In the morning, he took his motorbike to Lidl in Kelso and did not anticipate he would be over the drink-drive limit.

“He had collapsed in the supermarket, possibly due to having low blood sugar levels.

“He was stopped by the police, and it came as a shock to him that he was over the drink-drive limit.

“It was a genuine error of judgement.”

A mother of four has been fined £200 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for assaulting a teenager during a night out.

Nicola Turnbull, 31, pleaded guilty to pulling the woman’s hair and punching her in the face to her injury in the Square in Kelso on May 6.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said there had been a confrontation between the pair in the town’s Vibe nightclub earlier on.

At 2am, her 18-year-old victim left the nightclub as it was closing.

Mr Fraser said Turnbull saw her and walked over to her and began pulling her hair before punching her in the face.

The teenager suffered a cut above her eye due to being punched, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow claimed there had been an attack on his client, of Abbotseat, Kelso, inside the nightclub in an altercation about a spilled drink and the offence was a form of retaliation.

He added: “She saw red when she came out of the nightclub.

“She is a mother of four children and did not go out that night thinking something like this would happen. It was not her usual behaviour.”

A man has been ordered to carry out 60 hours’ unpaid work after he admitted three drug possession charges.

Neil Ford, 30, pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to committing those offences at a house in Abbotseat, Kelso, on June 23.

Cannabis worth £375, £305 worth of cannabis resin and diazepam valued at £140 were recovered following a police raid on the property.

The court heard that the father of two, of Inchmyre, Kelso, was described as having a “significant habit” and spent most of his money buying drugs online.

A man is set to be dismissed from the Royal Military Police after admitting driving while almost four times the legal alcohol limit.

Jack Fenick will be demoted in rank and return to being a regular serving soldier after admitting that offence at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

He pleaded guilty to driving at Pinnaclehill, Kelso, on August 12 with a breath-alcohol count of 87 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the 21-year-old called the police at 3.50am on the day of the offence to say he had crashed his father’s car in the middle of Kelso’s Sainsbury’s roundabout.

The fiscal said he had caused “a fair amount of damage” but the vehicle was not causing an obstruction.

Police officers traced him to his home address in Heiton and he confirmed he was the driver.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said: “He had been out in Kelso with friends. He drank too much and for the life of him cannot give an explanation why he got into the vehicle.

“He co-operated fully with the police.”

Mr Patrick said the offence had major consequences for his client, currently serving with the Royal Military Police in Colchester, Essex.

He explained that he had been in the British Army for 18 months but would be dismissed from its police force and will become a regular serving soldier instead.

Mr Patrick said: “It has had a major impact on his career.”

Fenick was disqualified from driving for 16 months and fined £350.

A former postman from Selkirk has told of his pride after raising the Merchant Navy’s Red Ensign at Scottish Borders Council’s headquarters this week.

But 95-year-old Stephen Taylor Smith would gladly have given that honour up for the chance to see one of his former wartime colleagues perform the function in his place.

It’s believed Stephen, now a resident at Waverley Care Home in Galashiels, might be the last surviving member of a group of Royal Navy personnel who volunteered to act as gunners aboard merchant ships during the Second World War.

However, the former Bannerfield resident, who ran the Ashkirk post route for 34 years, has not given up the dream of meeting another DEMS (defensively equipped merchant ships) seaman gunner.

He said: “I had always wanted to go to sea, ever since I was a young lad, so I did.

“And being a part of the DEMS is something I am very proud of, and I was proud to be asked to help raise the flag at Newtown this week.

“But genuinely, one of my most dear wishes is to find others who served in the DEMS.”

As well as holding firm against heavy bombing raids, manning the guns against enemy aircraft and U-boats and helping to keep Britain’s fleet moving, Stephen and his cohorts also had some other tasks on board ship.

He said: “I remember having to go down a hatch in the pitch dark. When I switched the light on at the bottom, there were rats left, right and centre. It was our job to kill as many as we could. We were supposed to get paid for that, but I was taken off the ship before I was paid.

"I also remember saving the ship once, when there was a fire in one of the ventilators.

“A ball of material had caught fire. I don’t know what the skipper was doing at the time, either drunk in his bunk or womanising, but I put out the fire.”

Stephen’s exploits were recounted a couple of years ago, by an author who was a friend of the family, Captain BP Parker ... and that book has been added to the collection at the Imperial War Museum.

On Monday, September 3, a special civic reception was held at the council’s HQ at Newtown, with Stephen helping council convener David Parker hoist the Red Ensign, whic h is flying over the building all week to mark Merchant Navy Day.

Mr Parker said: “I was delighted to be able to host local ex-Merchant Navy personnel and their families and hear some fascinating stories about their time serving their country.

“Meeting the likes of Stephen Taylor Smith was an honour, and I am proud the council will fly the Merchant Navy flag above our headquarters this week.”

Councillor John Greenwell, the authority’s armed forces and veterans champion, added: “The Merchant Navy has provided an important service for the last century to Britain, providing vital supplies to the country particularly at times of war.

“This ceremony is a small thank-you to Borderers who served in the Merchant Navy for their considerable efforts over a number of years.”

UK Government Prime Minister Theresa May is being urged to back calls for the Borders Railway to be extended south into England.

Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP John Lamont called on Mrs May to declare her support for the campaign to have the Edinburgh-Tweedbank line carry on to Hawick and from there into Cumbria at this week’s Prime Minister’s questions session in the House of Commons.

He told her: “The Prime Minister will be aware of the campaign to extend the Borders Railway from Tweedbank to Hawick and Newcastleton and on to Carlisle.

“That would provide a huge boost to the local economy and would help demonstrate what Scotland’s two governments can do for my region, so what will the Prime Minister do to ensure there is sufficient resource in the Borderlands growth deal to allow this project to move forward?”

Mrs May claimed that the issue was one devolved to the Scottish Government, though that only applies to any length of line north of the border, and not one for the UK Parliament but did offer some encouragement.

“I understand the importance to partners across the region of the campaign and proposal to which my honorable friend refers,” she told him.

“I am sure he understands that this is a devolved transport issue, but I encourage all parties involved to come to a workable solution and to ensure the best outcome for the entire region because this could bring great benefits.

“On his point about the Borderlands growth deal, may I assure him that the UK and Scottish governments will continue to work in partnership to deliver that deal?”

Mr Lamont was heartened by that response, saying afterwards: “I was pleased to be able to raise the campaign to bring the Borders Railway to Hawick directly with the Prime Minister.

“Bringing the line to Hawick would be transformational for the town, and although it is not going to happen overnight, I am confident that we have an opportunity to push the campaign on to the next stage.

“Bringing the Borders Railway to Hawick, Newcastleton and Carlisle is exactly the type of project which the Borderlands deal should be promoting.

“It would be a massive boost for Hawick and the rest of the Borders and would improve connectivity in the region, particularly if the line was to link up to the west coast main line.

“I am determined to continue to pursue this issue and make sure that the Borderlands deal moves this vital project forward.”

Extending the £353m line, opened in September 2015, to Hawick, via Melrose, would add about 17 miles to its current 30-mile length, and carrying onto Carlisle, via either Langholm or Newcastleton, recreating the old Waverley Route closed in 1969, would add another 50-plus miles on top of that.

Transport bosses are being called on to heed the need for more speed as latest figures reveal that fewer than half of Borders Railway services to Tweedbank arrive on time.

Only 48.6% of trains got to the south end of the 30-mile track on time or less than a minute late between July 22 and August 18, according to a performance update by ScotRail.

It also reveals that, over the same period, only 86.7% of trains terminating at Tweedbank arrived within five minutes of the time they were supposed to get there.

That’s below the national average of 88.2% and well below the target figure of 92.13% rail chiefs are being asked to aim for.

On a typical weekday, 33 trains from Edinburgh terminate at Tweedbank, meaning that four or five a day are turning up over five minutes late, and that’s nowhere near good enough, according to Borders MP John Lamont.

“These are disappointing results, particularly when passengers are repeatedly told that performance on the Borders Railway will get better,” said the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP.

“For nearly one in six trains to be leaving or arriving significantly late is simply not good enough.

“The campaign to extend the railway to Hawick and on to Carlisle is not helped by the poor performance of the current line to Tweedbank.

“We need the service to be as reliable as possible so that it is well used and brings economic benefit to the Borders.”

Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, added: “I have heard from local businesses that they have been enjoying a boost in trade as a result of the Edinburgh Festival, with tourists coming down to the Borders on the train for a day out.

“However, delays in public transport might well have soured their otherwise-lovely day in the Scottish Borders.

“It worries me that even when there are no weather issues such as snow or leaves on the line, ScotRail still struggle to achieve their targets on the Borders Railway.”

A ScotRail spokesperson said: “We know performance needs to be better, and we share the frustrations of our customers when things don’t go according to plan.

“The Borders Railway has been a massive success, with over four million passenger journeys since its opening. It’s important that we continue to improve.

“The investment we are making in new and upgraded trains, and our recruitment drive to increase the number of people working on our front line, will help us significantly in enhancing the day-to-day running of services.

“We are building the best railway Scotland has ever had, and service performance is a huge part of this delivery.

“Everyone at the ScotRail is working together to deliver these improvements.”

The latest performance figures can be seen at www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/webupload_1819_05.pdf

Today, there are 550 people in Scotland waiting for a call that could change their lives.

Mums, dads, daughters, sons and grandparents, just waiting for the chance to get on with a normal life.

Some will get the call; others will, sadly, die waiting for the phone to ring.

Which is why, during Organ Donation Week from September 3 to 9, Organ Donation Scotland is keen to stress that we all have it in us to save a life.

The organisation’s We Need Everybody campaign is urging people from across Scotland to join the NHS Organ Donor Register and give hope to those waiting for an organ transplant.

Arguably, there is already hope here in Scotland.

Our country has the highest percentage of donors on its register in the UK with just over 50 per cent, compared to 38 per cent in England.

But Lesley Logan, Organ Donation Scotland regional manager, hopes even more people will come forward.

She said: “At the moment, there are 550 people – just like you and me, average Scots – whose lives will be shortened without a transplant.

“They are all mothers, fathers, daughters, sons and grandparents who can’t get on with their lives because they are so ill.

“Organ donation is a lasting legacy – something good that comes out of tragedy.

“It gives people comfort to know their loved one saved lives and prevented other families from going through such pain.

“At the time, they are grieving their own loss but when they later reflect on it they are proud of what their loved one has done.

“It’s a rare thing to be able to save someone’s life but we all have it in us.

“If you have an untimely death and you no longer need your organs, do you really want to have them buried or cremated?

“You are much more likely to need a transplant than you are to become a donor.

“And if we’re prepared to take an organ to save our own or a loved one’s life, surely we should all be prepared to give our organs too?”

While Scots are often ridiculed for being miserly, we are a generous nation.

The organ donor register statistics for the UK ably back up that claim.

Lesley said: “Here in Scotland, people have already been incredibly supportive in signing up.

“We have the highest number registered in the UK and that’s been the case for more than a decade now.

“In fairness, a lot of that is down to the Scottish Government which has run successive campaigns and I think that has made a difference here.

“We also get slightly more people here, than elsewhere, saying they don’t want to be an organ donor in light of the campaigns.

“But far more people are on the register here and 80 per cent of families also support their loved one’s decision.

“Only six families per year decide not to go ahead with organ donation.

“We respect whatever decision people come to and have never had a single complaint in Scotland about approaching families for organ donation.

“We have had several, however, from families who have not been approached.”

The reason for that is simple – not everyone who dies can donate their organs.

Lesley explained: “There are only around 400 people a year in Scotland who are able to donate their organs.

“People have to be in intensive care in hospital, on ventilator support, to be eligible to become a donor.

“With so few every year, our donors are very special to us.

“One misconception is they all come to us from trauma – that only accounts for three per cent of cases.

“The vast majority of our donors suffer unexplained bleeds in the head.

“Improvements in health care are a wonderful thing but it also means we have fewer donors; each and every one is precious to us.”

Given the small numbers involved, organs can be used anywhere across the UK.

In Scotland last year, 102 people donated organs after their death – although many others donated tissue.

But it is imperative that, if you do sign the register, you let your family and friends know about it.

Lesley said: “It’s so important to make people aware of your decision.

“We had a situation not that long ago when a woman didn’t know her husband’s decision because he did it before they were married.

“We’ll inform the family of their loved one’s decision, in as gentle a way as possible.

“We ask them to support the donor’s decision and make it happen for them.

“It’s rare for families to disagree in that situation.

“But it’s so much easier if the family is aware of their loved one’s decision.

“You can see that burden of responsibility is lifted.”

Legislation has recently been introduced to the Scottish Parliament that would move Scotland to a soft opt out system.

Most adults would be deemed to have authorised donation of their organs and/or tissue if they have not opted in or out of donation.

The statistics won’t dramatically change though.

Lesley said: “It’s a measure to try to improve donation rates. It won’t magically increase the number of donors but it may give more hope to families.”

Buildings across Scotland have been lighting up in green this week to help publicise Organ Donation Week.

Among them are the Kelpies in Falkirk, the Caird Hall in Dundee and the SSE Hydro and Queen Elizabeth and Golden Jubilee Hospitals in Glasgow.

Lesley added: “We’re very grateful that these iconic landmarks have agreed to support Organ Donation Week by lighting up in green for us.

“We wrote to a lot of different organisations and were delighted with the response.”

You have it in you to save a life

More than half of people in Scotland have registered to donate their organs or tissue after their death; the country continues to have the highest registration rate in the UK.

There are more than 2,724,000 Scottish residents registered on the UK Organ Donor Register – 50.4 per cent of Scotland’s population – and surveys show that around 90 per cent of people support organ donation.

Some 550 people in Scotland are currently waiting for an organ transplant which could save or transform their lives.

Through organ donation up to seven lives can be changed, even more if tissue is also donated.

All the major organs, including kidneys, heart, liver, lungs pancreas and the small bowel can be transplanted.

Discussing your organ donation decision is vital, as families are far more likely to allow donation to proceed if they know it’s what you would want.

In 2017/18 in Scotland, 469 people received a transplant; 375 proceeded using organs from deceased donors, with an additional 94 kidneys provided by living donors to either a loved one or a stranger. In 2017/18, 102 people in Scotland donated organs after their death, with many others donating tissue.

For more information, call 0300 123 2323 or visit www.organdonationscotland.org.

Efforts to expand native woodland cover in the Borders have had a boost thanks to the appointment of a new adviser for landowners – Nicky Hume.

Partners Woodland Trust Scotland and Borders Forest Trust aim to increase tree cover in the Scottish Borders which amongst many benefits will increase water quality and help with flood management within the River Tweed catchment.

Nicky works for Borders Forest Trust based near Ancrum and thanks to funding from Woodland Trust Scotland can offer free woodland advice to landowners across the Scottish Borders.

Nicky said: “I look forward to hearing from people who want to find out about planting trees or restoring existing woodland. My advice is free of charge, and I can also offer support to access funding.”

Nicky trained in Forestry and Arboriculture at SRUC’s Barony Campus.

Borders Forest Trust was established in 1996 to restore native woodland to Southern Scotland and to encourage an interest in woodland culture within local communities. Since then BFT has developed a strong track record in native woodland creation, both on its own land and with other landowners. BFT’s own landholdings have increased in recent years and while the existing team will continue to focus on these, Nicky will be available to assist other landowners who want to plant trees or restore woodland.

The aim is to plant 1000ha of new native woods within the Tweed catchment by 2028; and to restore 50 ha of existing ancient woodland.

The Borders Railway this week marked the third anniversary of its opening by passing the 4m mark for passenger journeys made on it.

The 30-mile track linking Edinburgh and Tweedbank has seen year-on-year increases in passengers since its launch on September 6, 2015, with an official opening by the Queen following three days later.

Some 1.3m journeys were made on it in its first year in operation and 1.37m in its second. That increased to 1.5m in the year just ended, a rise of 5.8%.

The £353m track, the longest new line built in the UK for over a century, carries customers between Tweedbank and Edinburgh in less than an hour, offering a half-hourly service for most of the day.

Galashiels, Tweedbank and Stow’s stations are among seven new ones built along the line, the others being at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge.

ScotRail Alliance managing director Alex Hynes has welcomed the line’s ongoing increase in popularity, saying: “The Borders Railway continues to provide a strong and reliable transport connection, benefiting employment, leisure, tourism, and business.

“We are committed to building the best railway Scotland has ever had, and this line is helping us to deliver that, transforming the way people across Midlothian and the Borders travel.

“Reaching the milestone figure of more than 4m passenger journeys demonstrates the success of what was an ambitious project, and I look forward to its continued growth.”

Scottish Government transport secretary Michael Matheson agreed, saying: “The Borders Railway has been a phenomenal success as it continues to grow in both popularity and bringing benefits to the local economy.

“The ongoing increase in passenger numbers since it opened three years ago demonstrates it is acting as a catalyst for investment while opening up employment, leisure and education opportunities for communities along its length.

“We continue to look at ways to develop the potential of the line and the recommendations from the Borders transport corridors study will, in turn, feed into the ongoing strategic transport projects review.”

Scottish Borders Council too has hailed the line’s journey count hitting 4m as further confirmation of its success.

Mid Berwickshire councillor Mark Rowley, the authority’s executive member for business and economic development, said: “The Borders Railway has provided significant work, education and leisure opportunities for Borderers and brought more visitors to our area, as highlighted by the exceptional number of journeys made on the line in the last three years.

“Since the Borders Railway opened to the public on September 6, 2015, the council and our partners have been doing our best to maximise the benefits presented through the blueprint programme.

“A wide variety of positive projects are being taken forward through the programme, such as the Galashiels and Tweedbank masterplans which include the creation of a visitor centre for the Great Tapestry of Scotland and the Borders Innovation Park at Tweedbank, steam train journeys and the launch of the Midlothian and Borders Tourism Action Group.

“The success of the Borders Railway strengthens the case for extension of the line.

“A request to support further feasibility work on the potential extension of the Borders Railway to Hawick, Newcastleton and on to Carlisle will be included in the Borderlands inclusive growth deal submission to the UK and Scottish governments.

“Scottish Borders Council remains fully committed to securing the extension of the line.

“This is a key priority project for the Borderlands partnership, with all partners understanding the strategic and economic potential of such an extension for the wider Borderlands area.”

Leaderdale and Melrose councillor David Parker, the authority’s convener, added: “The Borders Railway opening celebrations three years ago were a momentous occasion for our area.

“We were convinced the railway would be a success, but for 4million journeys to have been made in the last three years is extraordinary.

“The railway has enabled people to make journeys they would not have done previously, encouraged visitors to come to the Borders, increased the use of public transport, which has reduced car journeys and been a positive factor in attracting people to work and live in the Borders.”

Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame has also wished the line a happy birthday, saying: “I spent years campaigning, alongside many others, for the reintroduction of a Borders Railway because of the benefits I believed it would bring to the area.

“I was delighted when the stretch to Tweedbank became a reality three years ago, and I’m pleased to see the figures back up its success.

“Passenger numbers have increased year on year since the line opened, with 1.5 million journeys in the past year alone.

“This goes to show the real advantages the line has to open up employment, leisure and education opportunities for communities along its length.

“Given that the UK Government is spending at least £55.7bn on the HS2 line from London to Manchester, which comes from UK-wide budgets, meaning it is part-funded by Scottish taxpayers, the estimated £650m cost of extending the Borders line to Carlisle is peanuts, and the UK Government should stump up.

“I look forward to seeing the line continue to bring its benefits to Midlothian and the Borders in coming years.”

A Borders nursery is facing closure by the end of the month unless it can raise £5,000 in the next two weeks.

Gibson Park Little Learners, based in Melrose, warns that unless it can raise enough money to cover its overheads it will be forced to close its doors for good before the end of September, after a 54 year presence in the town.

The group, formerly known as Gibson Park Playgroup, has seen its numbers dwindle to just five children, and although more are lined up to join next year- that could come too late unless its fundraising drive, launched last week, is a success.

The group’s chairwoman Fiona Smith said: “It would be so sad if we were forced to close.

“It’s been going for 54 years. It’s the playgroup I went to and where my daughter now goes.

“We are reaching out to the community and any generous person in a desperate plea to help save our much loved and much valued local institution.”

At its peak, the nursery had over 20 children attending, but with that number severely reduced, the group must double their numbers to become financially viable.

“We do have a lot of interest but we can only take kids from two-and-a-half years old,” Fiona added. “We have lost a lot of kids to the school nursery.

“There’s a huge amount waiting to come after Christmas, but at this rate we are not going to make it to the end of the month.”

The group, which meets in Melrose Parish Church hall four mornings a week and one afternoon, employs one full-time member of staff, group leader Pauline Pettrie.

“We have applied for grants but these just do not cover day to day running costs,” Fiona added. “That’s what we really need the help with, paying for the hire of the hall and wages for our one member of staff.

“And Pauline is just amazing, the kids love her.”

The group says it must raise £5,000 in donations by Friday, September 21.

“The kids have been round all the businesses in Melrose with letters asking them for help and we have had a good response on our justgiving page- which took in around £500 in its first 24 hours.”

To donate to the group’s campaign you can click here

Protecting children does not just fall to the police, social workers and professionals who work with them.

The responsibility for keeping children safe from harm is a collective one – we all have a part to play.

With that in mind, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has launched a unique new online training course.

It’s Your Call is geared towards tradesmen and women who often spend many hours, if not days, in people’s homes.

The 15-minute online course is designed to give them the knowledge and confidence to recognise possible signs of child abuse.

Covering all types of abuse, the training also provides them with guidance on who to tell if they have concerns about the well-being of a child.

Matt Forde, the national head of NSPCC Scotland, said: “We’re not asking people to spy on families.

“But when they see something, in their heart of hearts, they know isn’t right, we’re asking them to report it so that those families can get the help they need.

“The online course both informs and educates about the signs of abuse and neglect and what you should do if you have a gut feeling that something is not right.

“We’re not trying to turn plumbers or builders into social workers.

“But they do spend a lot of time in customers’ homes and it’s not an unlikely scenario that someone in that situation might gain an insight into a child’s life.

“People are often unsure whether they should report it. We would ask them to look at it from the child’s point of view – or their own child’s.

“The police and children’s services are not in the business of getting involved, willy-nilly, when they don’t need to.

“In the vast majority of cases, children are not removed from their homes but their families do get the help and support they need.

“Often, parents have their own pressures and have lost sight of their child’s needs.

“They’re overwhelmed with their own difficulties and have a strong instinct against asking for help.

“It’s very often a burden that is lifted when they get a chance to talk about something they have been struggling with on their own for far too long.”

On the flip side of that coin are children who are in imminent danger.

NSPCC Scotland asks the public to call its helpline – 0808 800 5000 – or the police immediately in the worst case scenarios.

Last year in Scotland, the NSPCC’s helpline referred 2012 calls and emails to local agencies such as the police or children’s services.

The majority were from people who were concerned a child was being neglected (905 referrals) followed by concerns about physical abuse (401 referrals), emotional abuse (335 referrals) and sexual abuse (265 referrals).

Matt said: “There has been increased traffic to our helpline.

“People are often unsure whether to report something – they really struggle with it.

“By calling the helpline, they can talk through their concerns and decide whether it’s something that needs to be taken forward.

“Our advice would be for people to consider if it was their child in that situation – better safe, than sorry.”

As the NSPCC relies on donations from the public to deliver its services in Scotland, the It’s Your Call online course does cost £19 for individual tradesmen, with package deals also available for employers.

But Matt is hopeful that it will become a success.

He said: “It’s very early days for the It’s Your Call training but we are hoping individuals and employers will take it up.

“We are not funded by the government – we raise all our own funding – so a fee is involved to cover the cost of delivering the training.

“But we hope people will agree it’s a small price to pay to help children who are potentially being abused or neglected.

“It’s about helping to give children a voice when they can’t speak out themselves.”

NSPCC Scotland prides itself on providing a voice for children but is also keen that young people, of all ages, are able to make their own voices heard too.

The charity holds special Speak Out, Stay Safe assemblies at primary schools in every local authority area in Scotland with that aim in mind.

Matt added: “We help children understand what abuse is and what to do if they are affected.

“We then go back two weeks later to find out what the children made of it and reinforce the message.

“Children often come to Childline when they are aged 12 and above, talking about things that have happened to them for years.

“So we wanted to deliver a programme for primary schools in the hope that children would start reporting issues earlier.

“Teachers have been very positive about the programme as it’s a topic they often struggle with too.”

The NSPCC is the leading children’s charity fighting to end child abuse and protect children at risk in the UK and Channel Islands.

Voluntary donations make up around 90 per cent of its funding.

Childline open 24 hours a day

The NSPCC’s Childline service has two bases in Scotland, in Aberdeen and Glasgow.

In 2017/18, Childline volunteers delivered almost 280,000 counselling sessions to children and young people across the UK on the phone and online.

Based on the population of Aberdeenshire, it is estimated that volunteers delivered around 1800 counselling sessions to children living in that area last year alone.

Some of them are going through the toughest times of their lives. They face issues such as mental/emotional health, family relationships and bullying.

So it’s vital that they have somewhere to turn. Childline – 0800 11 11 and www.childline.org.uk – is there for them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

On average, a child somewhere in the UK contacts Childline every 25 seconds.

NSPCC Scotland’s Speak Out Stay Safe (SOSS) service, which helps children learn how to recognise abuse, has now been delivered in the majority of our mainstream primary schools.

Sadly, in the average primary school class, at least two children have suffered abuse or neglect.

Just £4 pays for a child’s call or contact with Childline and £3 pays for the SOSS programme to reach a child.

But the NSPCC relies on donations from the public to provide its services across the UK and volunteers to help deliver them.

To find out how you can help the charity or to make a donation, visit the website https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do.

A woman found to be more than four times the legal alcohol limit for driving has been banned from the road for over three years at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Lorna McFadzen, described as a functioning alcoholic with a previous conviction for drink-driving, collided with a parked vehicle in a Kelso car park before parking her vehicle and falling asleep.

The 64-year-old, of Nisbet, drove off after being confronted by witnesses, and when she was breathalysed two hours later she was found to have a breath-alcohol count of 91 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22.

When police called on her at her home address, she accepted she had been the driver but said had no recollection of the collision.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said his client had worked for the National Health Service for 20 years but her mental health had deteriorated recently.

Sheriff Peter Paterson reduced the length of ban from five years to 40 months due to her guilty plea and also fined her £400.

Ninety-two year-old Borders sheep breeder James Jeffrey is set to be honoured for a lifetime’s commitment to the region’s sheep industry next Friday (14 September).

Mr Jeffrey will perform the Ringing of the Bell, alongside Show Secretary, Mags Clark, to signal the start of the annual Border Union Ram Sales in Kelso. Dating back to 1838, the event is Europe’s biggest one-day ram sale and this year has seen 5,458 entries (47 more than 2017), which will be sold across 15 rings by 7 different auctioneering companies.

The event, whose main sponsors are Closamectin® and Rumenco, is a huge undertaking and includes 10 marquees with over 178,000 sq ft of space to house the sale rings and sheep.

Mags Clark said; “The official 10am Ringing of the Bell to mark the start of the Kelso Ram Sales is one of the event’s most important traditions and we felt that this year, the honour of starting proceedings should go to someone who has made a significant contribution to the sheep industry in the region. James’ family has been selling sheep at this event since around 1900 and he’s a past President of the Border Leicester Sheep Society with a huge commitment to the industry, so we believe he’s the ideal person for the job.”

James first attended Kelso Ram Sales in 1942 at the age of 15, when he was responsible for selling the family farm’s Half Bred tups. His son, John now manages the family business, which operates from Kersknowe, Kelso and includes the oldest registered flock of Border Leicester sheep.

James Jeffrey said: “I’m hugely honoured to have been asked to Ring the Bell to start the Sale this year. The Kelso Ram Sales are a highlight in the farming calendar, both for our family, and for the industry as a whole. I’m greatly looking forward to playing such an important role.”