Borders MSP Christine Grahame has today criticised the group behind the Jimmy Savile float which was entered into Lauder Common Riding’s fancy dress.

Men from the Twenty10 Club dressed up as the disgraced TV presenter and schoolgirls during the parade on July 31, finishing third in the vehicle section but provoking outrage and an argument over free speech.

Ms Grahame, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP, said: “I am a great believer in free speech but I do think people have to be responsible and in my opinion this subject was in poor taste.

“While I’m sure those involved didn’t go out to deliberately offend anyone this was a very inappropriate topic for a family event.

“There may well have been a Savile victim in the crowd, a young person or an adult who is or has been the victim of sexual abuse.

“I wouldn’t want to censor anyone but I think this has been a serious misjudgement and hope the people involved are reflecting upon the offence their actions will have caused to many people.”

Every year since I was first elected I have carried out a summer surgery tour, where I visit 70 towns and villages across the Borders to listen to people’s concerns.

This year I had more than 300 people attend. There are always a myriad of different topics that are brought up, but this year the main issues seemed to concern the spread of wind farms over our countryside and the SNP’s plans for separation.

If you were unable to catch me on my tour this year then I will be restarting my usual schedule of surgeries soon and in the meantime you can visit my constituency office in Hawick High Street.

ELDERLY RESIDENTS

This summer has so far seen some incredibly-hot weather, with temperatures frequently reaching the high 20s.

Weather snaps can frequently catch more elderly residents off guard, with many of them unable to take proper precautions. Some can become over-exposed to the sun, and may fail to take on the required increased level of food and drink.

That is why I would urge all Borders residents to check in on their elderly friends, relatives and neighbours over the coming weeks.

OIL PROJECTIONS

The Scottish Government’s plans for separation were dealt a huge blow recently as the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) released the North Sea oil revenue projections for the coming years.

They not only showed that oil revenues fell last year, but also predicted that North Sea oil and gas receipts were on a long-term downward trend. This was in stark contrast to the claims of a “second oil boom” for Scotland. One of the separatists’ main economic arguments for breaking away from the rest of the UK is based on increasing oil and gas revenues.

However, these statistics prove that this will not be the case, and it leaves a huge hole in the SNP’s plans. Even based on their most optimistic estimates, it would leave a separate Scotland with a deficit of £8billion.

I believe this provides more evidence as to why we are better staying as part of the UK. Due to the UK economy being larger, we are more able to deal with the volatility of oil and gas revenues.

NHS LOCUM STAFF

I have recently voiced concern over the increasing amount of money being spent by NHS Borders on locum staff.

Statistics showed that spending on staff to temporarily work in a local hospital or practice had doubled in the last two years to more than £1.2million.

This rise is due to short-staffing caused by massive cuts to the number of nurses and it is time for the Scottish health secretary to take action to see this bill reduced.

It is all a question of taste.

Lauder celebrated another successful Common Riding last weekend, but questions have been asked of a fancy dress entry the previous Wednesday which centred on Jimmy Savile.

If the Twenty10 Club men involved had donned the iconic blonde hair, tracksuit and cigar and dressed as schoolgirls a year before, not an eyebrow would have been raised.

Savile was a favourite of fancy dress events up and down the land, before a TV programme exposed him in September last year for the sexual predator he was.

From that point on, his image changed from lovable kids TV presenter with a daft catchphrase to an evil child abuser.

Yet, Saville was mocked by comics up and down the country. Some laughed, while others were appalled that the late Yorkshireman and his actions would be used in comedy.

But where do you draw the invisible line between free speech and being offensive? What is off-limits and what is not?

For some, the Twenty10 Club float was a satirical swipe, while others took to social media to claim it was over the top and insensitive.

Yet, another subject could result in a complete reverse of opinions – those who thought it was hilarious become horrified, and those previously offended enjoy a chuckle.

Ultimately, everyone has a different answer to the question of taste.

Due to a date clash with Bridge of Allan Highland Games, the youths and junior races were combined to form an abbreviated race card at Meadowmill on Sunday.

This, however, did not detract from the quality of running.

The main event of the day was successfully defended by 2012 champion Tommy Finkle (TLJT, 11.5m), who had it all to do against race favourite Richard Eland (Broughton, 16.5m).

Finkle blasted from the starting blocks, taking a deep breath with 20m to go, and surged to the front, finishing a clear half-metre from Eland and third-placed Kevin Turner of Edinburgh in 10.54 seconds.

Finkle has been a main contender in the sprint finals this season, having been present in most of them, and puts his success down to his recent weight loss.

“I have quite deliberately lost almost two stone since Christmas and have been feeling the benefits on the summer circuit,” he told TheSouthern.

The 49-year-old has slimmed down from 14 to just over 12 stone and has no intentions of slowing down in his athletics career.

He added: “I have been running now for the best part of 40 years and during that time I have made some great friends on the circuit. Now I am enjoying my running as much as ever, as well as watching the young athletes progress, and enjoy the games as I have done.”

All six races on Sunday were keenly contested. None more so than the open 1,500m which saw race leader Gavin Taitt (TLJT) having to draw all his energy reserves to battle off a challenge from John Thomson of Coaltown.

Thomson, who was involved in a similar battle the previous day, had to settle for second place behind Taitt, who recorded his third win of the season.

In the 200m open, Kevin Turner hit top form after a series of near misses in recent weeks. Running from 43m, the capital runner made his intentions clear from the gun.

His first 30 metres were decisive, before cruising the rest to cross the line with two metres of fresh air still intact between him and training partner Keiran Reilly, and Kelso’s Ewan Pettigrew.

In the youths’ events, Daniel Elliott of Hawick won the 100m handicap from Caris Brus (TLJT) with Nicole Campbell (Hawick) taking third spot in a tight finish.

The 200m was won by Archie Fuller (Chirnside) from the front markers position.

His place was never threatened with a fine display of strong finishing to hold off Brus and Gary Goodfellow (TLJT).

The 1,500m handicap was won in fine style by 11-year-old Teviotdale Harrier Fraser Clyne, who ran on very strongly from his 305m start. Gala Harriers’ Thomas Otton and Nathan Cox took up the minor placings.

z Up at Bridge of Allan, Borders athletes were also putting on a strong show in the field events, with the region producing placed finishers across the board.

The top prize of the day for the victor in the 90m handicap went to Craig Bruce from Selkirk, but only after the judges had to study a photo finish to separate him and Martha Douglas from Jed-Forest Athletics.

Borders athletes also won the two youths’ 90m events.

Brodie Cowan (Jed-Forest AC) won the 10-12 age group with Eve Huxley (Innerleithen) victorious in the older 13-15 category.

Cowan also took the 200m title and was named as Most Promising Youth at the event. Her Jedburgh team-mate Martha Douglas earned herself the title of Best Female.

Selkirk’s Iain Douglas took the honours in the 200m, while in the 3,200m, Derek Scott from Hawick led from flagfall to tape.

Another football season is kicking off and for Gala Fairydean, Selkirk and Vale of Leithen it’s much more than the beginning of a term.

It’s a new dawn, a fresh era, as the three Borders clubs have left behind their East of Scotland (EOS) League home of many years to become part of the newly-formed Lowland League.

What’s more, Gala take the step under their new banner of Gala Fairydean Rovers – and it’s certainly a case of all systems go for the Netherdale side as they look forward to an away clash against Whitehill Welfare on Saturday.

Team boss Steven Noble told The Southern: “It’s a very exciting time as it’s a completely new venture for the club, as well as the Borders.

“The Lowland League is a great idea and we are very pleased to be involved in it as it is a pathway in Scottish football.

“It’s going to be a hard league as there are some top teams in it, but we are well aware of this. You couldn’t ask for a harder game than Saturday. Whitehill won the East of Scotland premier league last season and are a quality side.

“We have recently added to the squad in signing Jason Inglis (Selkirk) and Dean McColm (Hawick Waverley). Jason has a lot of experience, but is still a young man and will be a great asset. For Dean, it will be the first time he has played outside the Border Amateur League. He is a young player I have always admired.”

Selkirk tackle Threave Rovers at Yarrow Park.

Souters midfielder David Battle said: “We are going to be playing in a higher grade of football, so we are going to have to up our game.

“There are a few new players in the side, though, and if our pre-season is anything to go by, we could do well.”

Vale of Leithen entertain former EOS rivals Gretna 2008 at Victoria Park.

Elsewhere, Border sides are involved in EOS League Cup encounters.

Hawick are without Declan Hogg (unavailable) and Ronald Fleming (suspended) for their away clash with Stirling University. Kelso United manager ‘Prof’ Blaikie has a full squad to pick from for their meeting with Civil Service Strollers in Edinburgh, while Peebles Rovers travel to face Berwick Rangers Reserves on Friday evening.

The thing I enjoy most about visiting other parts of the country is discovering wildlife we don’t normally find here in the Borders.

Recently, I spent a couple of days in the Lake District and although it’s still in the Border TV catchment area, there are a few differences in some of the flora and fauna.

The most striking difference I noticed was the lack of birds compared to here. Even butterflies were fewer despite the lovely countryside and wildness of the hills.

I put the lack of birds down to the number of people traipsing across the countryside. The villages were like cities in miniature with cars everywhere and pavements crammed with people.

I spent half an hour in a queue waiting to get off the M6 at Penrith just to get access to the Lakes, such was the volume of traffic. It was nose to tail for four miles, just trying to get into Ambleside.

The country roads were buzzing with vehicles, weaving around cyclists taking their life in their hands on narrow lanes with no verges and drystone walls right up to the carriageway. I wonder if these people have ever heard of the Scottish Borders with their miles of quiet wider roads, beautiful scenery and much cheaper prices.

I digress.

While enjoying the view down Coniston Water, I couldn’t help noticing tall purple flowers growing by a jetty. They looked like drawn-out orchids with much longer spikes of six-petalled flowers.

Later, I looked it up in my flower book and identified it as purple loosestrife.

It flowers between June and August when its nectar becomes a valuable food source for long-tongued insects like bees, moths and butterflies, including Brimstones, Red-tailed Bumblebees and Elephant Hawk-moths.

It is quite scarce in Scotland, but was really abundant here.

Another unfamiliar plant I discovered in great profusion on a roadside verge near our hotel was great burnet.

It was taller than most of the rank grasses and its tight purple pom-pom flower heads were quite unmistakable.

I had only seen it once before near Selkirk, where there was one small colony growing in a similar wayside habitat. It is normally a plant of flood plains where its extensive rhizome root system can survive frequent inundation by water.

Burnet wine was traditionally made from its flower heads. The latin name Sanguis (blood) and sorba (absorb) points to its medicinal use; to staunch the flow of blood, including nosebleeds.

It can also used to treat burns and insect bites and the leaves can be eaten in salads; they taste like cucumber.

On the way home, I came by Newcastleton and I had hardly crossed the Border when the wildlife picked up noticeably.

I stopped to let the dog out and within a few yards I had seen two species of butterfly, a dragonfly, a family of wrens and a buzzard.

Yes, it was good to be back.

CROFTING is a hard life. Schlepping peat cut from the bog for your fire, milking your sole coo then spending hours beating, churning and slapping the milk into butter or cheese, digging stony plots over by hand to plant a potato crop that fails, breaking the winter ice on your pail in the morning before you take a wash.

Aye, it’s grim up North.

But not if you’re one of the new breed of cyber-crofter, hooked up to 24-hour Wi-Fi with access to the mighty Facebook, t’internet and all the riches this brings.

And you won’t catch this new breed of crofter faddling about with unpredictable animals and crops, stuff that’s likely to curl up and die for no reason or forget to come out of the ground. They might have a couple of hens wandering about and a thatched byre with an old plough resting at a jaunty angle beside it for that authentic Highland croft look.

But they will have looked at the statistics and crunched the numbers – tourism is the golden goose that contributes more than £4billion to the Scottish economy each year.

Yes, the modern crofter isn’t farming stock and crops, they are farming tourists.

We have just spent two (very unexpectedly) gloriously sunny weeks on the west coast, on a campsite with a two-minute walk to Local Hero-style beaches, all white sand, punctuated with interesting rocks just offshore, azure seas (think Maldives) and distant purple views of the Small Isles and Skye. Bliss.

Tired dogs and exhausted children. Double bliss.

And where was this slice of west coast heaven? Sunnyside Croft. Yes, Croft.

(Lucky) owners Julie and Ian bought Sunnyside and intended that Julie and kids would live there and work the croft while Ian continued to work in Glasgow. The idea was that Ian would find work in the area (Ian is a builder) and eventually perhaps have a team up north and one in Glasgow. The property boom was in full swing and the future looked rosy.

Then the crash. And workers being paid off. And a dream gone almost overnight.

But looking around at the campsites at the edges of their bay, Julie and Ian wondered about decrofting part of Sunnyside and running a campsite too. Maybe that would keep the wolf from the door (even though the last one had been killed in 1743).

And as the slump slumped even further, Julie and Ian invested heavily (or as heavily as you can when you have no money) and Sunnyside Croft Touring and Camping Site was born.

As modern-day crofters, they put in the traditional graft keeping everything in A1 order (and still manage to be cheerful and helpful hosts).

And like their predecessors, their hours are traditionally long with a natural rhythm – up with the sun; to bed when the sun goes down.

There are still four-legged animals at Sunnyside (sheep and hairy coos), but the two-legged variety (apart from the resident solitary hen) bring in the dosh.

Is it a model that could translate to, say, a Borders hill farm? Clartycleugh Camping just doesn’t have the same ring, does it?

PROSPECTS for this season’s grouse shooting that starts on August 12 are looking good across the Borders according to estate managers.

Ewan Harris of Sales and Partners, who work with a number of estates across in the Borders and further afield, says they are gearing up for a busy season.

Early indications are that the 2013 season is promising, with encouraging reports from keepers in the Lammermuirs – a welcome improvement on last year, which was one of the wettest in history.

Shooting managers have started their formal count of stocks which will give a more definitive picture in the lead-up to the Glorious Twelfth.

Ewan said: “Despite the horrendous wet weather last year, the autumn grouse stocks that were left have performed well. Some struggled in the cold spring with the frosts and late snow, and understandably broods were two or three weeks late in hatching. Brood sizes are smaller than usual, but the dry mild summer has meant that survival rates have been excellent. There are some concerns that the stocks will not have reached maturity in time for the Glorious Twelfth so we may see some shoots postponing until later in August.”

Speaking for the showers we have just experienced, he commented: “Grouse grow up in their natural environment on the moors and rely on young heather as a food source and fresh water.

“We are currently in the hottest and driest period in almost a decade, which is making it very difficult for the birds to find water on the dry moors. Keepers are concerned; lack of water is becoming a real issue, and only time will show how far these birds have wandered in search of water.”

Quite why 2012 turned out to be such a good season despite the appalling weather is still up for discussion. But many maintain that the hens were in very good condition when they started to nest (before the heavy rain) enabling them to rear good coveys. .

Large estate owners in the Borders have damned a new review of land ownership in Scotland.

In submissions to the Scottish Government earlier this year but only published this month, the landowners – who include the Duke of Roxburghe and Laird of Torwoodlee, James Pringle, as well as Buccleuch Estates and Douglas & Angus Estates which owns the Hirsel at Coldstream – criticise the review for assuming that a greater diversity of land ownership would benefit rural communities, but without, they claim, giving any supporting evidence on how or why.

If landowners like these were forced to sell some of their property as a result of community or tenant farmer right-to-buy legislation, it would they said, hit “at the essence of ownership rights” and suggested a “collectivist political view”.

The body carrying out an independent review of land reform laws received hundreds more submissions from the public and organisations than it had expected.

The Scottish Government set up the Land Reform Review Group last year following criticism that the legislation was too complex and bureaucratic.

Its remit was to examine how it can simplify the process for more people in rural and urban areas to be involved in the management of land.

In his submission to the group, James Pringle, Laird of Torwoodlee, who runs Torwoodlee & Buckholm Estates, said for many people, owning or managing the land around them was more a product of their “hearts rather than their minds” and that, should they ever find themselves owning a piece of rural Scotland, they would be astonished at how complex a business it really is.

“Using public money – whether from general taxation or from lottery funds – to change the ownership structure of Scotland’s land for political ideals smacks of the sort of regime we have spent generations fighting to overthrow,” stated Mr Pringle.

In his submission, the Kelso-based Duke of Roxburghe argued that responsible use of land, whether private, public or community, should have been the determining factor and he said he was disappointed that the remit of the review group concentrated so heavily on the expansion of community ownership.

“Private ownership can, and does, deliver, as we demonstrate in evidence, significant social, economic and environmental benefits and we hope the review group will recognise the contribution that well-managed private estates make to Scotland’s rural communities and its economy.”

The review group should be in a position to publish a draft final report by April next year.

The grounds of Duns Castle played host to farmers, cattle breeders and countryside enthusiasts of all stripes on Saturday. 
The show went ahead bathed in sunshine, a welcome change after the heavy rain of recent years.

The next generation of farmers was much in evidence. Finlay Bell of Roxburgh Mill, aged 14 and a keen Young Farmer, was accruing rosettes in several of the sheep classes.

Meanwhile in the Young Handlers class, Isa Gamble, watched on by her proud parents Kate and Alan, paraded her pet calf, who was nearly as tall as her.

And youth prevailed in the Zwartbles class, with victory for young brother and sister Chloe and Cameron Cormack, from Cornhill.

You didn’t have to keep cattle to enjoy leading an animal, though - the Companion Dog Show boasted an array of terriers and other dogs, enjoying being the centre of attention in the Dog Ring.

Our canine friends also provided plenty of entertainment in the main ring in the run-up to the final judging.

The flyball races and dog agility demonstrations went down a storm - although the biggest cheers were for the less obedient but ever-popularJack Russells.

As always the Berwickshire Show attracted a huge number of trade exhibitors around the main ring.

Beekeepers, crop experts and farm machinery agents caught the interest of the milling spectators.

And there were plenty of Berwickshire-based charities who pitched tents at the ringside.

The Industrial Tent was heaving with produce as usual, with over 800 entries across the classes.

By mid-afternoon, the champions of several species, including an Aberdeen Angus heifer, a pony, a hunter, the best Suffolk tup and a Hamburg Pullet, bred by Duns’ own Marie Evans, were ready to do battle.

After careful deliberation by Robin Forrest, a judge of livestock all over the world, the grey pony Fuinseoig Boy was announced Overall Show Champion.

Fuinseoig Boy is owned by Mrs Margaret Whiteford of East Lothian, and is ridden by her son James .

Margaret says the grey Connemara stallion was only bought last October after The Horse Of The Year Show.

He was originally intended for James to bring on as a novice, but as he progressed so much in such a short space of time they decided to jump him.

Margaret was delighted with the award for such a young pony, who has only been in a handful os shows this season.

Fuinseoig Boy has already been named Champion and Reserve Supreme of Show at Perth, as well as First and Reserve Champion at the Dalkeith Show.

The plan now is for the champion to be aimed at a couple of Horse of the Year of Show qualifiers at the Ponies UK and NPS summer championship shows.

The heifer Rulesmains Barbara, owned by Andrew Hodge, was narrowly beaten into the Reserve place.

Once the Champions Parade - described as the ‘creme de la creme’ by announcer Andrew Morgan - were led away, it was the turn of the vintage vehicles to take centre stage.

Tractors of all kinds chugged around the main ring, showing just how much farming in the region has changed, followed by various fantastic and well-loved vintage cars.

For all the prizewinners, see the Berwickshire Show’s official website at: www.berwickshirecountyshow.co.uk/home.

A 27-year-old man has been charged with a variety of offences following what police described as a ‘drunken brawl’ involving a large number of people in the High Street, Galashiels on Saturday.

A report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

A second man was given a fixed penalty notice for breach of the peace.

A woman suspected of being high on drugs was led screaming to the cells complaining about being jailed.

But because of her condition, Kimberley Moscrop didn’t realise she hadn’t even been sentenced.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond remanded the 22-year-old in custody and said her condition and behaviour should act as a warning to youngsters.

Moscrop, of Hillend Drive, Hawick, was incoherent when she was brought from custody into Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday.

She insisted her lawyer had not put forward her case and complained that her jail sentence was too harsh – despite a sentence not having been passed.

She was told by police officers to be quiet, but refused.

Moscrop was in court because she failed to turn up for a hearing at Jedburgh on July 25 to face charges of stealing goods worth £500 from Morrisons supermarket in Hawick on November 10.

After she had been escorted to the cells below the court, shouting and complaining, Sheriff Drummond commented: “I wish some of the kids could see that.

“She is 22 and drugs have destroyed her life. She has been coming in here since she was 15 and first it was alcohol and now it is drugs.”

He added: “It is a warning to what can happen to people with that lifestyle.”

Moscrop is due in court at Jedburgh on August 23.

POLICE remain in position outside a driveway in Melrose a week-and-a-half after a caravan fire which claimed the life of David Ogg.

It took until this Monday for Police Scotland to officially confirm the identity of the body found in the fire, which occurred on Saturday, July 27, in the town’s Tweedmount Road.

The 63-year-old was described by officers as the ‘occupier’ of the caravan.

However, despite identifying Mr Ogg as the victim of the blaze, which took hold shortly before 9.45pm, no new information has been forthcoming in terms of the cause of the fire or whether it is being treated as suspicious or not.

Specialist fire investigators from a dedicated unit in Edinburgh have been working with police colleagues to try and ascertain the circumstances surrounding the fire.

However, a Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed this week that investigations were still ongoing and that there was no update.

Following the blaze, the police appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

Fire crews from Galashiels and Selkirk attempted to put out the flames, but the caravan was burnt out, with the remains of Mr Ogg subsequently found inside.

The town was described by local councillor Jim Torrance to be ‘in shock’ following the fire.

A deadline for applications to create a £25,000 cultural strategy for Scottish Borders Council came to an end on Tuesday.

The consultation will end in November or December this year in an attempt to pull together a strategy to “contribute successfully to wider regional agendas”.

A rugby player who starred for Selkirk Youth Club has been told by a sheriff that his brutal attack at a pub could easily have killed his victim.

Jordan Lunt, 18, admitted repeatedly punching, kicking and stamping on the head and body of David Lewis at Angus O’Malley’s pub and in The Valley on March 19.

Lunt, of Sentry Knowe, – who was watching rugby on TV – lashed out after he claimed Mr Lewis, who he did not know, tried to cuddle him.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond watched CCTV footage of the attack and on Monday he told Lunt: “Perhaps the most surprising thing arising from that for you and your victim is the relatively-low level of injury which has resulted. We have seen in more than one case an assault like that causes death or permanent impairment with that kind of kicking that went on. You are in one sense a very fortunate young man. I can treat this as a non-custodial matter, although you will bear in mind your over-indulgence in alcohol.”

The sheriff told Lunt, who was given a community payback order involving 216 hours’ unpaid work, that in particular it was the stamping that could kill.

Lunt’s lawyer Robert More conceded: “It was a very, very, bad incident.”

A not -guilty plea to kicking a woman on the head was accepted by the Crown.

Carole Andrew’s fight to build a bungalow for disabled daughter Rachel beside her Lilliesleaf home will be heard on Monday.

The former teacher has appealed to Scottish Borders Council’s review body after the public authority’s own planning department threw out her application in March.

Hawick Royal Albert and Gala Fairydean Rovers have landed the best ties out of the Borders entries into the first round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

The Royalists host South of Scotland side St Cuthbert’s Wanderers, while Glasgow University - who Selkirk defeated last season in the same competition - travel to Netherdale 3G Arena to play Gala.

Vale of Leithen have a 240 mile journey to play Highland League side Brora Rangers, who started the season with a 5-1 win over Clachnacuddin.

Turriff United from Aberdeenshire head in the opposite direction to face Selkirk at Yarrow Park.

Selkirk captain Kenny Munro said: “It will be a tough game that is for sure but we love playing in the cup and will definitely be up for it.”

The longest trip of the round will be Wick Academy’s 306 mile journey to Coldstream.

The Streamers made the trek northwards to Wick two years ago and lost 9-1 but the newly promoted Premier Division side may fancy their chances at home.

However, Academy narrowly missed out on winning the Highland League last season.

The first round matches takes place on September 14.

Police have today named the motorist who was killed in a crash on the A697 between Greenlaw and Carfraemill on Monday.

Richard Glass, 59, from Grindon in Sunderland was at the wheel of a northbound Kia Sorento when the crash happened near the hamlet of Houndslow.

Police Scotland say he was in collision with a southbound Vauxhall Combo van. The Sorento then crashed into a Vauxhall Vectra which was also heading south.

And police are trying to trace a vehicle which they say may not have stopped at the time of the collision.

The crash happened around 3.30pm and police have urged witnesse to contact them on 101.

This latest incident has led to fresh calls from people in the area for improved safety measures.

Jailed brothel keepers Rob Munro, formerly from Selkirk and Margaret Paterson from Edinburgh are appealing their convictions and jail terms

Munro, 61, and Paterson, 60, were jailed for five years after their conviction at the High Court in Edinburgh of living off a prostitution racket.

Their brothel was adjacent to their homes in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh but women were driven to meet clients across Scotland and parts of England.

Police who rumbled the racket that had gone on for 10 years found £204,000 in cash and evidence the [air had laundered £700,000.

A jury convicted them of living off immoral earnings and proceeds of crime charges.

When he jailed them, Judge O’Grady commented: “It has been a remarkable operation in its scope, sophistication and organisation – not to mention its profitability.”

Munro and Paterson believed they weren’t law breakers and were providing a public service for people who were willing to pay for sex.

Papers indicating their intention to appeal against both conviction and sentence have now been lodged at the Justiciary Office at the Court of Session.

There has been no date fixed for any appeal hearing. A move by the Crown for confiscation of assets is scheduled to be heard next week.

Munro operated a chip shop on Selkirk High Street for many years and piped with the local band and at functions.

The executive member for education says the council supports its teachers adequately, despite a large rise last year in days lost due to stress.

Teaching staff were absent for an extra 500 working days in 2012/13 because of the condition, a Freedom of Information request has shown.

While Sandy Aitchison admits the job is stressful, he says help is available.

The Galashiels councillor told us: “It is not always possible to divide occupational stress from the other stresses of life which have increased in recent years, but at SBC, I am assured we have the measures in place to assist and help any of our staff who need that help. Teachers should be aware that help exists and as part of a team in any school they should look after each other to detect early signs of stress and depression in their colleagues and talk honestly within their school. Stress affects all of us – there is no shame in seeking early help.”

A spokesman for the teaching union EIS said there had been a significant rise in stress-related illness.

He added: “Heavy workload, combined with other issues such as pupil indiscipline and rising class sizes, can place teachers under a great deal of stress.

“All local authorities have a duty of care to all their employees, including teachers, to ensure a workplace that is conducive to good health and well-being.”