Scottish secretary David Mundell has told of his disappointment after a review of UK Government constituencies, set to be voted for by MPs, would see him edged out of the Borders.

The review, undertaken by the Boundaries Commission for Scotland, has been carried out under the 1986 Parliamentary Constituencies Act.

After the act was amended in 2011, the various boundary commissions of the countries making up the UK have been tasked with redrawing the UK’s political map every five years to take account of changes in population shifts.

However, a planned change in 2013 was abandoned after the Liberal Democrats, at the time in a coalition government with the Conservatives, withdrew their support for it.

The amount of constituencies across the UK is to be reduced from 650 to 600, and in Scotland that would see 59 constituencies knocked down to 53.

As well as reducing the number of seats, the review aims to make constituencies more equal in terms of number of voters – between 71,031 and 78,507.

The proposed changes see Mr Mundell’s Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale seat broken up, with his foothold in the Borders disappearing.

The towns of Walkerburn, Innerleithen and Traquair would be added to the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency, currently held by fellow Conservative John Lamont, and Cardrona and Peebles would move into a new Midlothian and Upper Tweeddale seat.

The rest of Mr Mundell’s constituency would be replaced by a Dumfriesshire and Lanarkshire South East seat.

Mr Mundell said: “Having represented Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale at Westminster for over 13 years, I would be extremely disappointed to see the constituency broken up.

“However, at least the revised proposals for new constituencies have taken on board local concerns in Dumfriesshire and will see the Annan area be in the same constituency as Annandale and Eskdale and Heathhall and Locharbriggs will remain with Dumfries.

“It will now be for Parliament to decide whether these changes are adopted.”

Westminster’s public administration committee has urged MPs to vote sooner rather than later on the proposals as there would soon be no time to start redrawing boundaries again and the 2022 election would be held using outdated boundaries.

The UK Parliament was due to decide this autumn if and when the recommendations are implemented, but it is believed that at least 10 Conservative MPs are ready to rebel and vote against that, enough to defeat the proposals.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May has since refused to commit to a vote before Christmas, only saying it would take place “in due course”.

The hesitation is understandable as, for some MPs, it is akin to turkeys voting for Christmas.

Mr Lamont said he would have to look at how the changes would impact across the country before he was ready to make a decision.

He said: “The proposals from the Boundary Commission would add Innerleithen, Walkerburn and Traquair to my constituency.

“It will now be up to the UK Parliament to decide whether to support these proposals or not.

“I will be looking closely at the impact of these proposals across Scotland when deciding how I will vote.

“This review makes my constituency larger in size, but it also significantly addresses the current discrepancy between the number of voters in each constituency.

“Excluding the island constituencies, an MP can represent anywhere from 93,000 voters to 47,000, which is far from ideal in terms of democratic representation.”

A man has admitted possession of scores of indecent photos and films of children.

James Thomson, 56, pleaded guilty to committing that offence at his home in the Linn, Kelso, between September 2015 and November 30 last year.

Some of the images and films uploaded onto his computer were in the most serious category A, showing girls aged from infancy to 12 engaged in penetrative sexual activity with adults or other youngsters.

Sentence was deferred at Jedburgh Sheriff Court until October 29 for the production of a criminal justice social work report and a restriction-of-liberty order assessment.

A man has been fined £300 at Selkirk Sheriff Court for assaulting a Peebles teenager.

Samuel Buchanan, 22, of Leithen Road, Innerleithen, pleaded guilty to assaulting Glenn Todd during the early hours of April 1.

Sophie Hanlon, prosecuting, said the incident happened at around 1.20am as the complainer was walking along Northgate, Peebles, with friends.

A verbal exchange with Buchanan and his companions led to the accused crossing the street and pushing Todd to the ground, resulting in him hitting his head and inflicting a cut.

He was taken to the Borders General Hospital at Melrose and six stitches were inserted in a 4cm cut above his eyebrow.

Defence lawyer Robert More claimed the complainer had been shouting abuse at a woman in his client’s party, prompting him to respond.

An outdoor centre is set for a new lease of life after lying empty for nearly three years.

The Craikhope outdoor centre will be officially reopened on Saturday following a year-long refurbishment.

Owned by the Forestry Commission, the centre, located in a clearing in the Craik Forest, south of Hawick, had been empty since Scottish Borders Council gave up its lease on it in 2016.

It is now welcoming groups again, though, after Craikhope Community Interest Company, the trading arm of outdoor charity In2Venture, took over the lease last year.

Company director Andre Santos said: “We’re really pleased to have Craikhope up and running.

“It was a very popular place in the past with scouts, boys brigades, schools and other groups and individuals, and since we took on the lease we have found that people are still keen to use it for all kinds of outdoor activities.”

The centre can now accommodate groups of up to 36 and has already begun hosting groups, with Borders district scouts completing a first aid course there last week.

The renovation included the installation of a new heating and plumbing system, roofing and electrical works, overgrown plants being cut back and the addition of an archery range and storage shed.

“It had been closed for quite a while, so there was a lot to be done,” Mr Santos said.“It’s in an area of the Borders where there is no network. There are no phone lines and the electricity is all generators.

“It’s great. People enjoy it because it’s so remote.”

An open day takes place this Saturday, from noon to 8pm. There will be a barbecue, archery, vertical challenge, badminton, team games and, weather permitting, fencing, with the official opening due to take place at 12.30pm.

Converted from the original Craighope Cottage, the outdoor centre was opened by Prince Philip in 1976.

It was gutted by fire just three years later but was soon rebuilt, with Hawick yachtsman Chay Blyth opening the new centre in 1983.

A man has been convicted after a jury trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court of assaulting a woman by stripping her of her leggings and underwear.

Andrew Wiseman, 56, was found guilty of committing that offence while the woman, now 29, was lying intoxicated face down on a bed in his Anderson Road home in Selkirk in December 2016.

However, allegations that he sexually assaulted her and carried out a sex act on himself in her presence, all with intent to rape, were deleted from the charge.

Wiseman was found guilty of assault following a three-day jury trial.

Sentence was deferred until Thursday, October 18, for the production of background reports.

Frightened Rabbit will take to the stage later this year for the first time since lead singer Scott Hutchison’s tragic death in May.

The Selkirk-founded folk-rock band will play at the Kelvingrove Bandstand in Glasgow as part of a country-wide charity sleep-out on Saturday, December 8.

Having signed up for Social Bite’s Sleep in the Park event before Scott’s death, the band say that keeping the engagement is the best way they know to honour his memory.

The Frightened Rabbit frontman died, aged 36, in May following a battle with depression.

The band played at Social Bite’s Sleep in the Park fundraiser in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens last year, and this time round they will curate the Glasgow sleep-out in a show billed as Songs of Frightened Rabbit.

James Graham, vocalist for the Twilight Sad, will be among a number of special guests performing with band members Grant Hutchison, Billy Kennedy and Andy Monaghan.

Grant, Scott’s younger brother, said: “We had agreed to play Sleep in the Park before Scott passed.

“We felt that since it was for such a great cause, we should stick to our decision and honour Scott in the best way we know – to play the songs he wrote and continue spreading his message of kindness whilst supporting Social Bite and the amazing work they do.

“It’s an honour to play for such a special event again, and we felt it would be the perfect time for us to play together again and share this special night with some of our favourite artists.”

Social Bite is aiming raise £6m from Sleep in the Park 2018 to continue its fight to eradicate homelessness.

Some 12,000 people are expected to take part in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee on December 8 in what has been described as the world’s biggest multi-city sleep-out.

Social Bite co-founder Josh Littlejohn said the Frightened Rabbit performance in Glasgow would be “incredibly special”.

“Frightened Rabbit were incredibly enthusiastic about being involved with Sleep in the Park this year, and we were really excited about working with them again,” he said.

“Obviously, we thought it was off the table after what happened, but I met Grant a few months later at an awards ceremony, where Scott was honoured, and we got talking.

“It’s the first time the rest of the band will have played together since Scott passed away, so we’re really honoured that it’s happening at our event.”

Since Scott’s death, fans, have donated thousands of pounds to the Scottish Association for Mental Health in his name.

A collection at last month’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival in Inverness-shire, at which Frightened Rabbit had been due to perform, was also given to the charity.

Grant said: “The outpouring of support for us and love for Scott since his passing has been immense.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of money raised for various mental health charities since Scott died and would like to say thank-you to anyone who has contributed to this.

“He has had such a massive impact on so many people’s lives, and it has been amazing to see so many people wanting to give back in Scott’s memory.”

A 25-year-old man led police on a blue-light chase through Hawick because he had no insurance for the car he was driving, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Jori Silver, 25, drove at excessive speed along various streets, overtaking a vehicle and going over speed bumps with a patrol car in pursuit.

Despite the pursuing car’s blue light being illuminated, he managed to lose the officers chasing him.

Silver, now living in Wallsend, North Tyneside, pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving and having no insurance in Hawick on May 30.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick admitted his client’s driving was “crazy” and said it had been prompted by Silver realising he was driving with no insurance.

He explained that the vehicle had been parked in his mother’s roadway and he was told to remove it.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said the driving involved was undoubtedly dangerous and disqualification is inevitable.

He noted that Silver, formerly of Princes Street, Hawick, had no previous convictions for motoring offences but said the fact he was trying to evade the police made matters worse and called for a criminal justice social work report to be prepared.

Sentence was deferred until October 8 and an interim driving ban was imposed.

Hawick and Hermitage councillor Davie Paterson is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart attack while holding a ward surgery this week.

Davie, the longest-serving councillor in the Borders, was hosting his usual weekly surgery at Drumlanrig St Cuthbert’s Primary School on Monday night when he suddenly felt pains in his chest.

Despite his discomfort, he decided to return home, but the next day his GP advised him to take an ambulance to the Borders General Hospital, and it was revealed he had suffered a slight heart attack.

Speaking from his bed at the Melrose hospital, Davie, 64, said: “When I was at my surgery, I got gripping pains in my chest, and the school janitor was going to call an ambulance, but I decided to go home.

“When I got home, I called NHS 24 for advice. They asked my symptoms, and they wanted to send an ambulance, but I said no as I was seeing the doctor the next morning.

“He told me the best thing was to go to hospital to get things checked out, and I’m so glad I did. I don’t know how long I’ll be in.”

The former amateur boxing champion remains in good spirits despite his health scare, and he has nothing but praise for the treatment he has received from hospital staff.

He said: “I have to say that I cannot praise all the staff highly enough for the really nice way that I was treated and am being treated.

“I got a message from a friend last night saying I was in the best place, and they are 100% correct.

“How anyone can knock all the extremely hard-working staff in the NHS is beyond me.

“I have nothing but praise for the nice and professional way that everyone does their job.”

A sub-group has been set up to look into speeding near Lauder after a study found that 40,000 vehicles broke the limit there each week.

The study, carried out by Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland, found that drivers generally complied with the 30mph speed limit through the town centre.

However, average speeds at the north and south junctions were above 30mph, with the fastest speeds being recorded at the north entrance to the town.

Speaking at Lauderdale Community Council’s meeting last week, Stephen Potts said: “Concerns were raised about speed on the A68 at the beginning of the year and a survey was commissioned in March. After that there was an expectation that Amey would come to a meeting of the community council to discuss the findings. I’m a bit concerned that nine months on, things seems to have gone quiet on that.”

Highlighting results from the A68, just beyond Thirlestane Drive, he added: “Nearly 40,000 vehicles a week broke the speed limit there, 4,000 of which were travelling over 40mph.”

The meeting heard that Amey is considering putting a speed-activated warning sign at the north entrance, and traffic islands in the Edinburgh Road and at the south entrance near Thirlstane Drive.

However, Lauderdale and Melrose councillor David Parker, who had been liaising with Amey, said representatives were unlikely to attend a public meeting to discuss the options.

“You can invite them, but as civil servants accountable to ministers, they prefer to answer questions by email,” he said.

Vice-chairwoman Irene Thomson suggested setting up a sub-group to look into the matter further.

“Going on the data, we have some clear challenges,” she said.

“Maybe we should have a small sub-group with members of the public who have come along repeatedly with a common interest.

“If we have some clear questions, we could meet in a closed environment first.”

A paedophile responsible for sex offences against two young girls in the Borders in the 1980s has been brought to justice three decades later and put behind bars.

Raymond Hay has been jailed for 15 months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for historic sex crimes against the girls.

The 55-year-old, of Roxburgh Street in Kelso, had denied engaging in lewd, indecent and libidinous practices on one occasion at a house in Greenlaw with a girl aged between seven and 11.

He was also accused of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices with a second girl on various occasions when she was aged between four and nine.

Following a three-day trial, Hay was found guilty by a jury, however.

He was jailed for 10 months on one charge and another five months for the other.

Sheriff Peter Paterson also put Hay’s name on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

Scottish Borders Council is considering pushing for a merger with NHS Borders to create a single local authority for the region.

The proposals, to be discussed at a full council meeting on Tuesday, would see the combined council and health trust take charge of 9,000 staff and more than £400m in public funding.

The report due to go before the council was written by the authority’s corporate policy adviser, Michael Cook, and he describes the proposals as an “unprecedented opportunity”.

He writes: “The review grants the council and partners an unprecedented opportunity to design a system for engaging with and delivering for the citizens of the Scottish Borders by driving a significant improvement in outcomes through a unified focus on priorities in a single organisation.

“If the council was to neglect to make its arguments for a new way of doing things, then it would be failing in its responsibility to optimise outcomes for the region’s citizens and communities.  

“In turn, there is risk that, in failing to put forward a vision for the future, that other public bodies advance proposals which may not serve the best interests of the Scottish Borders and its people.”

The report highlights several challenges in the Borders that have necessitated the drastic plans, including a reduction in public spending, its sparse and ageing population, persistent social inequalities, the likely impact of Brexit on the region and the devolution of powers from Westminster to Holyrood creating an imbalance with the authority’s English neighbours.  

The report says that addressing those concerns is difficult due to the co-ordination required between the council and NHS Borders.

The report highlights obesity and child protection issues as problem areas, saying: “Problems such as obesity, child abuse and social exclusion are currently beyond the capacity of any one organisation to understand and respond to.

“Too often, agencies focus on acute problems and do so unilaterally, rather than co-ordinating efforts to address those factors which give rise to the problems in the first place.

“The council and its partners are working together, but co-ordination and co-production are hindered by the artificial boundaries which exist between multiple organisations.

“We need to go much further than has proved possible to date and focus our collective capacities on early intervention and prevention approaches. The logic of integration is that it will drive these efforts.”

A council spokesperson said: “If approved at the full meeting of Scottish Borders Council on Tuesday, the submission will be made to the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities as part of the joint local governance review which aims to consider how powers, responsibilities and resources are shared across national and local government and with communities.

“The proposal argues that a single public authority would be a logical next step following a series of Scottish Government actions in recent years which have aimed to eliminate boundaries and obstacles between public-sector organisations to deliver improved outcomes for residents.

“These include the Scottish Government’s report into the future delivery of public services by the Christie Commission, the launch of the national performance framework, which sets out a vision for national wellbeing in Scotland, as well as the Community Empowerment Act that aims to allow residents to have more of a say in decisions which affect them.”

NHS Borders has yet to comment on the proposals.

Organisers at the Border Union Agricultural Society’s ram sales last Friday at Kelso’s Springwood Park have hailed the day as a great success.

While the sale didn’t quite break any records, it came very close to last year’s record turnover with a grand total of £2,991,860, the top shearling, from the Clark farm at North Garngour, near Lesmahagow, selling for £29,000.

Texels were by far the most popular breed, with shearling sales hitting £745,020 and lamb sales reaching £75,970, including the top-priced lamb at £5,000.

In all, 4,390 rams were sold at an average price of £681.52.

The event also marked Mags Clark’s first stint as executive director at the sales.

She told us: “I was delighted with how the sale went. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“From James Jeffrey starting the sale with the traditional ringing of the bell to the last drop of the hammer you could tell the Kelso ram sales are something special within the sheep industry.

“The atmosphere and buzz of the event was just wonderful.

“The sale has survived within an ever-changing world, and it was fantastic to see it continue to grow and develop within the industry.

“This year, to accommodate the changes in entry numbers across the breeds, we moved some of the rings around, which proved to be a success.

“Last year’s sale targets were a Kelso ram sales record and were always going to be hard to beat, but to exceed both of last year’s top prices and come so close to hitting the £3m turnover figure, in the current climate is a testament to the sale’s reputation and position in the calendar.

“I can’t thank the sponsors, auctioneers, trade stands, buyers, sellers, volunteer helpers and staff team around me enough for helping deliver another successful sale.”

Owners and lovers of vintage vehicles enjoyed their last hurrah of the season at Sunderland Hall, near Selkirk, over the weekend.

It has always been a popular date in the calendar for those who keep their beloved pride and joys in top nick before they are packed away for the winter, and the 2018 Selkirk Vintage Rally proved no different.

Chairman of the organising committee, Gordon Edgar, told us: “It went really well, with a similar number of entries and visitors to recent years, and fantastic weather over the two days.

“The Saturday saw the vehicles do a 50-mile circuit through the Borders, which was enjoyed by all.

“Many came back to the field to tell us that this year was the best run they’ve ever had here.

“It’s always been a very friendly rally, which attracts a strong support, as it’s the last event of the circuit for most owners, before their vehicles are put away for the winter months.

“This year, there were 813 entries in all, including trade stands. There was also a lot of interest in the Land-Rovers, which were there in all sizes, shapes and ages, as they were celebrating their 70th birthday.

Highlights included several fire engines, a 1925 Model T Ford found in Kansas, complete with bullet-holes in one of its doors, and a blast from the past in the form of a green-liveried SMT bus from the 1970s, but taking the best in show was James Pringle, of Galashiels, with a 1911 Model T Ford.

Selkirk Vintage Rally Results 2018

Veteran Cars up to 1919: 1, J Pringle, Galashiels; 2, N McGarva, Annan; 3, M Povey, Ancrum

Vintage Cars from 1920 to 1930: 1, A Sutherland, Carnoustie; 2, D Kerr, Jedburgh; 3, A Stewart, Strathmiglo

Vintage Cars from1931 to 1939: 1, R Winkler, Lasswade; 2, S Holland, Earlston; 3, R Allardyce, Newbridge

Classic Cars from 1940 to 1958: 1, D Oliver, Witton Gilbert; 2, A Gibb, Aberdeen; 3, K Began, Glasgow

Classic Cars from 1959 to 1969: 1, G Forrest, Shotts; 2, J Forrest, Shotts; 3, J Deas, Forfar

Classic Cars from 1970 to 1979: 1, G Wright, Edinburgh; 2, M McKitten, Chester-le-Street; 3, A Thomson, Westfield

Classic Cars from 1980 to 1992: 1, B Spalding, Methven; 2, S Fairnie, Musselburgh; 3, M Fairbairn, Lauder

Kit Cars: 1, M Whiteford, Earlston; 2, J&M Donaldson, Kilbatchan; 3, M Hathaway, Carrutherstown

Vintage Motorcycles from 1920 to 1930: 1, K Rogers, Bishop Auckland; 2, W Blackett, Spennymoor.

Vintage Motorcycles from 1930 to 1939: 1, R Davidson, Pencaitland.

Vintage Motorcycles from 1940 to 1959: 1, J Ness, Melrose; 2, W Martin, Polmont; 3, F Miller, Crieff

Classic Motorcycles up to 1992: 1, W Muir, Kilwinning; 2, T Black, Selkirk; 3, B Marshall, Carrutherston

Pre War Light Commercial: 1, M Smith, Penrith; 2, J Pringle, Galashiels

Post War Heavy Commercials: 1, D Roper, Workington; 2, J Carrick, Abington.

Post War Light Commercials: 1, J Mitchinson, Ashington; 2, R Veitch, Edinburgh; 3, G Bryce, Livingston

Military Vehicles: 1, A McPhee, Penicuik; 2, P Coghill, Edinburgh; 3, D Walker, Berwick

Enclosed Crank Engines: 1, W Chisholm, Kelso; 2, J Wilson, Kelso; 3, P Hogarth, Jedburgh

Open Crank Engines: 1, J Abbott, Lazonby.

Working Units: 1, I Middlemas, Duns; 2, R Grieve, Lockerbie; 3, D Andrews, Newark

Agricultural Implements: 1, J Kimm, Dumfries; 2, J McLennan, Selkirk; 3, D Bradshaw, Selkirk

Bicycles: 1, R Deas, Forfar; 2, H Barker, Belmont; 3, G Irvine, Longtown

Collections: 1, N Purves, Hawick; 2, M Stout, Belmont; 3, B Davis, Livingston

Miniature Steamers: 1, A Foster, Darlington; 2, A&I Webster, Udny; 3, T Wallace, Haddington

Steamers: 1, A Cook & Sons, Leven

Club Stands: 1, Jaguar Drivers Club; 2, North Lakes 4x4 Club; 3, Scottish Off Road Club

Juniors: 1, B McDonald, Uphall; 2, D Pringle, Galashiels; 3, J Borthwick, Selkirk

Pre 1975 Camper/Caravan: 1, S Gilchrist, Alloa; 2, I Cranston, Lilliesleaf; 3, M Redburn, Newtown St Boswells

Large Mounted Engines: 1, J Forster, Carlisle

Modified Modern: 1, A Blaikie, Earlston; 2, S Hogarth, Selkirk; 3, M Lumsden, Lochgelly

Fire Appliances: 1, E Carberry, Croftamie; 2, D McAusland, Johnstone; 3, J McNab, Irvine

Buses: 1, R Carlyle, Mayfield.

Tractors: 1, N&G Lindsay, Glen Carse; 2, J Hunter, Kelso; 3, R Wardhaugh, Melrose

Special Awards

Best Triumph Motorcycle: G Newcombe, Wigton

Best Triumph Car: C Girdler, Musselburgh

Best Ford: J Deas, Forfar

Best Jaguar: J Forrest, Shotts

Best Motorcycle in Show: J Ness, Melrose

Long Haul: N Lowe, Brora

Most Original Vehicle: J Pringle, Galashiels

Best BMC: K Stokoe, Peebles

Best in Show: J Pringle, Galashiels

Tommy Hogan Trophy: A McCook

A motorcyclist lucky to be alive after a crash near Kelso has been reunited with the paramedics credited with having saved his life to give him the chance to thank them.

Michael Hallsworth almost died after that collision sent him hurtling into a roadside telecom box, leaving him with a broken shoulder blade, broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

The 64-year-old only survived thanks to a Scottish Ambulance Service team arriving in time to re-inflate his lungs, enabling him to breathe.

The retired electrical supervisor spent six days in the Borders General Hospital at Melrose after the July 17 accident and was told by staff there that he had the two paramedics called out to tend to him, Guy Anderson and Stuart Hogg, to thank for the fact he’d lived to tell the tale, not that he can remember much of it.

“When I woke up in hospital the next day, the doctors said that if not for the intervention of the paramedics, I would not have survived,” recalled the father of two, of Chirnside. “I was told my lung had collapsed and they had saved my life.”

Recounting what he remembers of the near-fatal crash, he said: “I was on my way to Hawick when I came past the racecourse at Kelso.

“That is the last thing I can actually remember, but, apparently, just past there, I overtook a car, and the car turned right into me and knocked me off.

“I can’t remember a thing after that. The next thing I remember is waking up in the intensive care unit the following day.

“When I woke up, the nurse asked me if I knew where I was. My reply to that was ‘I must be in the Borders General Hospital’ because of the surroundings, but I couldn’t remember how I got there and that’s when she told me I had been in an accident.”

Despite having no recollection of the crash itself, Michael has been able to consult a police report to fill in the gaps in his memory, explaining: “I was following a car. The car slowed down, indicated and then turned right.

“By that time, I was almost past him. The car hit the pannier on the back of the bike, which knocked me off, and I parted company with the bike and hit a telecom box by the side of the road, which is what did all the damage.”

He describes his recovery since the accident as “very good” and he’s met Guy and Stuart, both based at Kelso ambulance station, to thank them for giving him the chance to carry on with his life.

Guy said: “It wasn’t until 24 hours later that we found out the true extent of his injuries.

“It was lovely to meet Michael and see he’s making a full recovery. It’s always gratifying when we get thanked for what we do.”

Michael added: “I can’t be thankful enough because they saved my life that day.

“I have always been in awe of paramedics anyway. I believe they do an absolutely fantastic job and don’t always get the recognition they should.

“It was great to get the opportunity to thank them to their face.”

Scotland’s first support hub for former members of the armed forces and blue light services was officially opened in Hawick this week.

The First Light Trust facility, made up of a charity shop selling ex-army clothing, bric-a-brac and books plus Sharpe’s Coffee Shop, moved into the former It’s Great outdoors shop at 1-3 High Street earlier this year.

And it was officially opened by Hawick’s honorary provost, Hawick and Hermitage councillor Watson McAteer, on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr McAteer said: “While in simple terms, seeing an empty shop on the High Street being brought back to life is great news, a deeper dive into what this actually means for the town reveals something far more substantial and meaningful.

“Interestingly, the trust is already looking after more than 1,700 veterans and their families across the UK.

“Its purpose in life is to create a meeting point and develop a community of those who may need help, having suffered physical, emotional and psychological distress.

“It would be very easy to think that Hawick doesn’t really need this type of facility, but that would be a mistake and a denial that we have our share of veterans who struggle to cope.

“We are lucky in Hawick with strong Royal British Legion and ex-servicemen’s clubs, and hopefully First Light will bring much-needed additional and complementary support.”

The national charity, set up nine years ago, already has four hubs in England, and volunteer David Murray, of Kelso, is tasked with bringing five more to Scotland.

“Hawick was first, then it will be Perth, then Aberdeen then the west coast somewhere,” he said.

“Hawick was a good choice for the hub due to it being home to a lot of veterans.

“We have been very well received by the town, and people are supporting the hub enormously.”

David helps run the charity initiative alongside hub co-ordinator Carolyn Brown, of Denholm, plus one part-time and one-full time member of staff.

Mr McAteer added: “I know you have already been surprised at how positive and supportive Hawick folk have been, and I know that will continue as your reputation grows.

“I am sure Hawick folk will wish you every success.”

Fears that dry rot could spread through Jedburgh’s town centre have led to calls for a dangerous building there to be pulled to the ground and fast.

That message was sent out loud and clear at Jedburgh Community Council’s meeting on Tuesday as it discussed the scaffolding-clad building at the corner of Exchange Street and High Street, an eyesore blighting the town centre since June 2015.

Financial disputes over work to the building, now deemed unsafe and riddled with dry rot, meant a 40-week-long schedule of repair work, due to start in June, ground to a halt months ago.

And with the works showing no sign of recommencing, townsfolk now fear the rot will spread, with some believing it is already present in adjoining buildings including the old council offices in Exchange Street and the former Barnardo’s charity shop on High Street.

Community councillor Brian Woods said: “It’s a creeping sickness, and we have got to halt it. The general opinion in the town is to take it to the floor.

“Leave the fascia as it is and rebuild it internally.”

Business owner Sharlene Lunn, whose hair salon has been hidden behind a works container in Exchange Street since April, added: “It’s absolutely disgusting that things have got to this stage.

“My fear is that it’s spreading and it’s spreading fast.

“It’s absolutely shocking that our beautiful town is being affected like this.”

The scaffold, believed to have cost around £220,000 to date, was extended in June, reducing traffic in High Street to a one-way single lane, but with the council now removing the cabin reviewing traffic management arrangements, it’s left residents asking if, and when, work will start again.

“Them taking away the container and fencing is good news for me, but not for the town,” Sharlene Lunn added.

“If they are taking it away, when is it going to come back? When will work start again?”

The original scaffold went up after small pieces of masonry came loose from the building, comprising a former hair salon and four vacant flats above it, but since then its condition has worsened.

Community councillor John Taylor said: “I think this is now bordering on incompetence on more that one person at the council’s part.

“Somebody has not been doing their job. To turn around and say it has deteriorated in the last few years is ridiculous – of course it has.

“I honestly think somebody’s head should roll for this – in fact, more than one.”

That sentiment came after Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton warned the town will have to “grit its teeth and bear it”.

He said: “We understand there’s a detrimental impact on the town, but we have to stress that it’s a privately-owned building.

“It’s a very complex situation both legally and financially.

“I would ask that Jedburgh and everyone here grits their teeth. We are going to have to bear it until it’s resolved.”

“It has taken a lot of time – we apologise for that – but is being pushed, and at the highest level.”

Community council chairman Rory Stewart asked: “Is it not the case that it’s been brought up at a higher lever because one of the owners has disputed the costs?”

Councillor Sandy Scott, who earlier warned that it’s almost certain the town’s new school,due to open in March 2020, will be up before the scaffold comes down, replied: “The whole thing is a nightmare.

“We have found all the owners. None of them lives in the town, and one of them has decided they are not liking what our architect has done, so we have had to go away and get another architect too.”

A Scottish Borders Council spokesman said: “A welfare cabin is to be removed for the time being and the council are reviewing the traffic management arrangements, but no decision has been made at this time to remove the current one-way system.”

NHS Borders is reviewing the way the hydrotherapy pool at Borders General Hospital is run, following recent forced closures due to lack of qualified staff.

The pool, situated on the facility’s ground floor, is highly valued by patients who require water-based therapy and exercise as part of rehabilitation sessions.

For safety reasons, a specially-trained additional member of staff has to be present poolside during these sessions, but an “unprecedented” level of staff absences in recent months has meant the facility could not be used.

Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP, Rachael Hamilton, wrote to the health secretary Jeane Freeman to seek assurances on the future of the pool.

In the response, Ms Freeman said: “My officials have contacted NHS Borders who recognise the value of this extremely beneficial service.

“In recent months, all healthcare support workers working in the physiotherapy department at Borders general Hospital have been absent from workdue to unforeseen circumstances.

“They do apolgise, but this situation is unprecendented and in no way suggests the removal of the service.

“The local physiotherapy service is currently in discussions with other parts of NHS Borders to identify options for how healthcare support worker provision can be provided to allow delivery of the service.”

In the response from the Health Secretary, an apology from NHS Borders was issued, and there is to be a discussion into staff provision for maintaining numbers at the hydrotherapy pool.

However, her words failed to placate the Conservative MSP.

She said: “Whilst I am glad we have received an apology, the fact remains that with very little notice, the hydrotherapy pool can be closed.

“My constituents rely on this vital service, and staff shortages at NHS Borders must be addressed to ensure that it continues to operate normally.

“I am still not convinced that the future of the hydrotherapy pool is guaranteed, as without a robust staffing plan, we may see many more days when the pool is closed at short notice.

“I look forward to hearing what NHS Borders plan to do to ensure it remains open”

A spokesperson for NHS Borders told us: “Patient safety is our number one priority.

“Unforeseen and unplanned absences are very difficult by definition to manage.

“Therefore, at times it may not always be possible to guarantee sufficient staffing to ensure that people can use the facility safely.

“We are reviewing the options to improve our resilience and staffing levels.”

We asked NHS Borders how many people were trained to support patients at the pool, and how often it was used.

The spokesperson said: “All our physiotherapists are able to support patients using the hydrotherapy pool.

“This facility is used as and when required when it is deemed as the most appropriate treatment for patients and therefore numbers of patients using it can fluctuate.

“Currently, we have around 20 patients using the pool on a weekly basis.”

Residents of a street in Galashiels were evacuated last night after reports of people smelling gas.

The street was closed off by police, and two fire crews were dispatched from the nearby station in Croft Street, and six residents were evacuated from their homes as a safety precaution, while one resident who had taken unwell was treated by ambulance personnel.

The gas supplies to the homes were inspected, but it is believed that a strong cleaning product had been used in one of the homes, which had caused the stench.

A spokesperson for Scottish Fire and Rescue told us: “We were alerted at 7.34pm on Thursday, September 20 to reports of a potent smell coming from a two-storey property in Tweed Crescent.

“Operation control mobilised two fire crews and six residents were evacuated.”

The street was reopened at around 10.30pm.

Borders rugby legend Doddie Weir’s success on the sports pitch and as a charity fundraiser has landed him a one-off hands-on role only offered to a select few before him.

The 48-year-old, of Blainslie, has been announced as the 12th recipient of the Edinburgh Award, an accolade handed out to those deemed to have garnered international recognition for the city.

The former Scotland star, capped 61 times between 1990 and 2000, will be presented with an engraved loving cup by the city’s lord provost, Frank Ross, and have his hand-prints set in stone at the city chambers later this year.

And being 6ft 6in tall and weighing the best part of 20 stone, what he describes as his “enormous paw-prints” are sure to be the biggest yet to adorn the chambers’ quadrangle.

Doddie, diagnosed with motor neurone disease 20 months ago, said: “I am hugely honoured and humbled to receive the prestigious Edinburgh Award, especially when I see the names of those who have received it before me.

“Edinburgh has been good to me. It’s where I was born, I was educated at Stewart’s Melville College and began my rugby career here and, of course, I have a special connection with Murrayfield.

“The support I have received from all over the world since I shared my diagnosis has been incredible, and it has helped drive the work of our foundation forward as we try to raise awareness around motor neurone disease and help find a cure for this devastating disease.

“Edinburgh has been at the forefront of this support, along with the Borders, and I highly appreciate the efforts of everyone. I am determined that together we will make a difference.

“I would like to thank the lord provost for this honour and look forward to adding my enormous paw-prints to the others already there at the city chambers.”

By having his hand-prints set in stone to mark his award honour, Doddie is following in the footsteps of last year’s recipient, former Edinburgh University principal Timothy O’Shea, and the likes of novelists JK Rowling and Ian Rankin, artists Elizabeth Blackadder and Richard Demarco, boxer Ken Buchanan, judo champion George Kerr and cyclist Chris Hoy.

Mr Ross said: “Doddie is not only an inspiring sportsman but a real champion of MND research, helping to raise awareness through his own foundation and provide much-needed funds towards finding a cure for this disease.

“Retired since 2005, the Edinburgh Award will go some way towards recognising Doddie’s long and celebrated rugby career and his ongoing charity work with motor neurone disease, which Doddie announced he had been diagnosed with in 2017.

“He is Edinburgh’s gentle giant, as well respected and loved by citizens as much as his peers and rugby fans.”

“Doddie really has made an outstanding contribution to sport, to charity and to the capital.

“The Edinburgh Award is the city’s way of recognising all that he has achieved.”

Doddie began his professional rugby career at Melrose in 1991, remaining there until he moved south to play for Newcastle Falcons from 1995 to 2002 before ending his playing days with the now-disbanded Border Reivers in 2005.

Two nursery workers accused of forcibly dragging children in their care about and locking them inside cupboards will stand trial next month.

Nicola Jeffrey, 22, and Teresa Renton, 34, are charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person fear and alarm on various occasions between January 1, 2015, and August 1, 2016.

That offence is alleged to have been committed at the since-closed Little Reivers Nursery in Duns.

They both pleaded not guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to a charge of shouting, forcibly dragging children about, lifting them off the floor by the arm and locking them inside cupboards and refusing to let them out, as well as making offensive and abusive comments towards and about young children and behaving in an aggressive, threatening and abusive manner towards young children in their care.

Jeffrey is further alleged to have seized hold of the arm of an injured child receiving treatment from a colleague.

She is also said to have changed the nappy of a child in view of the public on a concrete floor without any mat.

Renton, of Ainslie Terrace, and Jeffrey, of Rachel Drive, both in Duns, pleaded not guilty to that charge.

Two days have been set aside for a trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on October 25 and 26.