Galashiels Inner Wheel Club secretary Moira Shanks, pictured left, a founder member of the town’s food bank, spoke to the club’s latest gathering about the project. She is seen with Susan Moore, another long-standing member.

After Captain Turner, from the Hawick Salvation Army, emailed churches in 2011 to ask for help in setting up food banks in Borders towns, Moira replied – and the Galashiels project began with food being stored in her garage. Banks are also located at Jedburgh, Selkirk, Duns, Kelso and Peebles.

After the first year referrals from agencies grew to the extent that help was required – and the Fellowship of Churches came on board.

All goods and money are by donation.

Since the welfare reforms there has been a 33 per cent increase in the number of food parcels requested in the Borders.

The club is holding a fundraising beetle drive on Saturday in St Peter’s Church, Galashiels, at 7pm.

The next meeting is on March 18 at 7.30pm where members will decided the recipients of charity money raised this year.

NHS Borders chairman John Raine has pledged to do all he can to keep the BGH’s hydrotherapy pool open until a replacement is ready.

Mr Raine was speaking this week, after campaigners trying to save the hospital pool from planned closure, put forward options to allow its continued use.

NHS Borders decided last May to close the pool as part of the second phase of a crucial £500,000 revamp of the hospital’s outpatients department.

Water-based exercise sessions will be provided at local swimming pools, while a purpose-built facility at Jedburgh will provide hydrotherapy.

However, the latter is dependent on the Jedburgh pool trustees gaining planning consent and securing funding.

The Borders Patient Action Group, although disappointed when health chiefs reconfirmed their closure decision, was heartened by a suggestion some of its proposed options could be piloted at the BGH, working towards a smooth transition to a hydrotherapy pool at Jedburgh.

Mr Raine praised BPAG for its professionalism, but said a proposal to allow sports clubs and others to use the BGH pool as a way of rejuvenating the facility, had overlooked the fact the pool is in the way of the second phase of outpatient redevelopment.

There would also be issues around infection control and public access, he said.

“This [outpatient redevelopment] is still a priority, although it hinges on upwards of £500,000 becoming available and we also want to see progress at Jedburgh,” said Mr Raine, adding the BGH outpatients department sees almost 70,000 appointments a year.

As well as that requirement, Mr Raine says there is a genuine belief that what NHS Borders intends will see a much broader-based service than that provided by the hospital’s pool alone.

He told us: “It [the new Jedburgh pool] would still be accessible to a large number of people across the Borders.

“And, combined with provision in swimming pools, it makes for a broader, more accessible and, perhaps, fairer distribution of resources.

“But it does hinge on the Jedburgh element getting the go-ahead on funding and planning.

“If that was to collapse, we would have to go back to square one and I believe we would then have to have another consultation.”

Mr Raine says his wish is for the BGH pool to remain open until a replacement is operational.

“That would be my intention, and as far as I can control events, I will do my very best to ensure we dovetail provision so that the hydrotherapy pool doesn’t close until there is a reprovided service.”

An old mill in Selkirk is a long way from London’s West End, at least it was until enterprising duo Katie Robinson and Marie McCullough moved in.

On Saturday, Sam Angell, former West End star of Billy Elliot, officially opened Creative Stage’s new studio in Riverside Mill, from where the two professional performers and dance teachers will run various classes for all ages.

Marie, who has lived in Selkirk for the past 13 years, and Katie, originally from Oxton, formed the business in September 2012, having both performed in the West End and around the world.

Katie said: “Performing arts is a small world and I knew Marie through a friend of a friend, and when I was back in the Borders I went to see a piece Marie had choreographed, and she mentioned that she was looking at doing something like this.

“I was working in Italy and we ended up having Skype sessions to put our ideas together and we just went for it when I came back.”

Their office was initially Marie’s kitchen, with the pair putting on performing arts classes across the Borders.

Despite the opening of their own dedicated studio, they will continue to offer classes across the area, but the huge studio space, with mirrors and ballet barres, will allow them to run new dance classes too.

“We can do a lot more in here than we could before,” said Marie.

The highlights of their year are summer and Christmas shows.

Marie said: “It is hard work putting on two shows a year, but it is nice for parents to see what their children have been learning in class.”

Katie added: “We really try to make the shows as professional as possible, and bring in professional sound technicians and so it gives the chance for the kids to work with microphones, stage lighting and a professional crew.”

With extensive professional contacts Marie and Katie have also arranged for a leading casting director to work with children in a musical theatre and audition workshop.

And while the business is focused on learning and having fun, for those keen to pursue performing arts as a career, the pair have also created an agency for local talent.

A CLOVENFORDS councillor has welcomed the rejection of a proposal by house developer Barratt to reduce contributions due to help the village.

The application was unanimously rejected by the planning committee in private last week. The firm is considering an appeal.

Councillor Stuart Bell said he was “very pleased”, adding: “Any appeal against developer contributions should be made before a development starts. It is quite wrong for an application to be made after a development has commenced.”

A spokesman for Barratt East said: “Since Barratt agreed a financial contribution sum with the council back in 2007, our business, like many others, has been adversely impacted by the economic recession.

“Despite the prevailing financial difficulties, we have remained committed to the Clovenfords site and keeping local jobs on site. However, in light of these circumstances, we have been engaged in ongoing discussions for around nine months to modify our contribution agreement.”

It is understood that the contributions include £45,000 towards play-park improvements.

THE company car is an important part of the remuneration package for many employees, but is your business motoring strategy as tax-efficient as it could be?

I am frequently asked what the tax implications are of a company buying a car, providing fuel or buying a van for an employee or director.

Here I have summarised the main points to consider and also highlight some of the changes that are coming into force later this year.

Firstly, you might consider switching to a company car with low CO2 emissions to save tax.

There are reduced car benefit rates for ‘environmentally-friendly’ cars – either those that don’t emit CO2 or those emitting up to 75g/km.

Alternatively, an employer-provided van can also result in tax savings. Unrestricted use of a company van results in a taxable benefit of £3,000, with a further £564 benefit if free fuel is also provided. The resulting tax bill can be up to £1,603.80, with an employer NIC bill of £491.83.

Limiting the employee’s private use to only home-to-work travel could reduce both figures to zero.

However, if replacing the company car fleet is not a viable option, consider whether you could benefit from paying employees for business mileage in their own vehicles, at the statutory mileage rates.

This may be particularly advantageous when business mileage is high.

Looking ahead, from the financial year 2014/15 the car fuel benefit charge multiplier will rise from £21,100 to £21,700 and the van fuel benefit charge will rise from £564 to £581.

Meanwhile, the van benefit charge will increase from £3,000 to £3,090.

In addition, the lower emissions threshold for company car tax will be reduced from 115g/km to 110g/km.

For more information email gill.adamson@renniewelch.co.uk or call 01573 224391.

Jedburgh horsewoman Kathryn Macey scooped the Equine Learner of the Year Award 2013 at Lantra Scotland’s glittering Learner of the Year Awards ceremony in Dunblane last Thursday night,

The 22-year-old completed her SVQ level 1 and 2 in Horse Care at Borders College and gained a Saltire Volunteering award for helping with the loca lRiding for the Disabled group . She was chosen also to take part in a four-week work placement at Pinetrees Riding School in the Algarve.

On leaving college, Kathryn took up a full-time job with the Girsonfield Stud and racing stable at Otterburn, Northumberland.

Kathryn, who has ADHD and overcame a muscle disorder to follow her dream, said: “I am so happy to have won the award. Coming from a non-horsey background from where riding was a hobby and turning it into my life and career has been a lot of hard work.

“The SVQ level 1 and 2 in Horse Care at Borders College allowed me to refresh the skills I had learned along the way and put into use the safe methods for carrying out these tasks.

“Over the next year or so I would like to develop my career with the potential of one day running my own yard. In the near future I’d also like to buy my own youngster with the aim of competing in the show jumping circuit.”

She was nominated by horse care course tutor, Alison Robertson, who said: “I nominated Kathryn for this award as I felt she had overcome many hurdles to follow her chosen career.

“She has proved to be hard working, committed and enthusiastic towards her course and shown empathy and patience when assisting with the Riding for the Disabled riders.”

The ceremony and dinner was attended by more than 150 guests and speakers included Scottish minister Angela Constance and Quality Meat Scotland chairman, Jim McLaren.

The Southern Uplands Partnership (SUP) is 14 and still going strong. I manage the initiative working from Lindean Mill, while other project staff are spread across the region.

The SUP’s mission is to help keep people living and working sustainably in the southern uplands of Scotland.

The need has not diminished over the years. Indeed, many of the pressures have increased. Upland agriculture is dependent on subsidy and many farmers have given up.

The loss of farming families has a knock-on effect on local schools, shops, and businesses. Increasing fuel costs make rural transport and heating of older houses expensive. For many communities things seem to be going downhill.

However, it doesn’t have to be like this.

Recent work in the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys shows that rural communities are rich with skills, ideas and energy, and that when these are brought together, exciting initiatives take shape.

For example, the community felt that the recent mountain biking bonanza had passed them by, but now efforts are being made to create cycle links between the Tweed Valley and the tranquillity of the Yarrow and Ettrick and the hope is that cyclists will discover new places to explore.

Southern Scotland is so close to urban centres where we know people are hungry for the peace and quiet we have here and yet there is a perception that you have to go north to see real Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage has been promoting the “big five”, the otter, red squirrel, the harbour seal, the golden eagle and the red deer, and all of these can be found in the south.

Nature-based tourism is a rapidly-growing market. Visitors increasingly want to experience local natural heritage as well as the cultural attractions. The SUP has been working with businesses to help them better understand the opportunities that this offers. It is not just the “big five” that people want to see. It is also the more common wildlife that we often take for granted. A well-informed guide who can tell a story as well as point out local wildlife can add significantly to the experience that a visitor has.

The SUP is running a series of events this year to help businesses better understand what we have and how it can be experienced whilst also being cared-for.

Other areas of work tackled by SUP include lobbying on the rural broadband issue, stimulating debate on National Parks, promoting Eco-schools and conserving black grouse.

If rural communities are going to remain vibrant we need to create more opportunities for partnership working, bringing people together from different walks of life to see how they might do things differently. The SUP has 14 years of experience of this process and the projects it has developed have brought in several millions of pounds to the local rural economy.

Inevitably, the current economic climate is putting pressures on local charities. SUP is exploring a number of income-generating schemes which it hopes to progress later this year and is especially keen to hear from people who would like to support its work or become members.

For more information visit www.sup.org.uk

Today, I will be celebrating with a glass or two of sweet sherry. Possibly right after lunch, just as you should with an afternoon drinking habit.

It passes the time nicely before the school bus arrives or you have to dash off on the school run. Only joking. Honest. I am especially super-joking if you are a member of the local constabulary.

No, I will wait until the Young Master and Young Mistress are well a-bed, and then partake of a nice glass of red wine. Possibly two. I am a wee devil.

And the reason for this Faliraki-style celebrating?

This (sound the trumpets) is my 50th column. Yes, half a century. And if you are one of my small, but terribly loyal, following, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking with it.

Lord knows, it can’t have been easy. Like a drunken frog, the subject matter has hopped merrily from subject to subject. From chickens to dogs, vegetables, raised beds and more chickens, to rally cars, eggs, the Sochi Olympics, homemade hooch and even more chickens.

And not forgetting my lovely turkeys Vic, Queenie, Sally and Cilla, and the two (nameless) wee quail.

I like to think that I have offered value for money over the last 50 columns.

If you look at The Southern in its entirety, and count up its many, many pages, then look at how big (ie. small) my column is in relation to the rest of the paper, and consider the cost of the paper to buy, I must cost you about 0.5p a column, or perhaps even less.

I’m afraid I had an arts-based education and maths is sooooo not my strong point. Now, I can see you thinking: ‘Arts-based education? Did she have a governess? Was she educated abroad on some kind of rolling Grand Tour?’ No, no, no. I was just really rubbish at maths and so was encouraged to take subjects like languages, art, English and history.

I had a fascinating and enigmatic physics teacher, called Mr Peace, who told us gripping and appalling tales of what he experienced when testing water quality in Japanese POW camps at the end of the Second World War. He often pointed to interesting scars on the physics lab ceiling as he started an experiment, to show us what happened last time around.

Even that wasn’t enough to stop me failing at physics. All that maths. Yuk. Anyhoo, I will get over the disappointment of Not Being a Maths Genius and continue to write, if you will continue to read what I write.

As for the subject matter, I’m afraid it will probably still be quite random. I am taking snowboarder Billy Morgan’s misinterpreted statement of intent during the Sochi slopestyle, which means ‘go for it’, in a ‘with little regard for your personal safety’ way. Just Huck It.

So I sent off for a Billy-endorsed t-shirt. Do you like it? Hope my bum doesn’t look big in it. Get yours at: http://butta-wear.myshopify.com/products/just-huck-it-billy-morgan-t-shirt

I’m not on commission. Honest.

Bill Cockburn has landed the first salmon of the season to be caught from the Kelso Angling Association water on the Teviot for the second year in a row.

Bill, who lives in Kelso, caught the 7lb hen fish on February 28, using a red Flying ‘C’ while spinning from the Bridge Pool. He was assisted by boatman Gavin Brown who just happened to be walking over the bridge on his way home. The pair netted and returned the catch to the river.

Bill received a certificate, crystal tumbler and a crystal decanter – put up by Tweedside Tackle of Bridge Street, Kelso – from Tim Pilcher, of Tweedside Tackle, where the trophy remains on show.

A long-eared owl found lying in a field in West Linton on Monday morning, is now recovering in a Scottish SPCA rescue centre.

The owl was discovered beside a fence with a shoulder injury, but this should heal with a few weeks’ cage rest.

Seven years after the last British soldiers left Northern Ireland, the conflict continues to haunt veterans of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers.

A report issued recently by the King’s Centre for Military Health Research looked at the mental impact on soldiers from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Peter Poole, deputy chief executive of the charity Combat Stress, said the organisation was encouraged that measures put in place by the UK Armed Forces to support serving personnel are having results.

But he added: “Nevertheless, the rate of those suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is worrying.”

Combat Stress is currently treating 806 veterans who served in Iraq and 519 who served in Afghanistan.

But while it is those wars that have made most headline news in recent years, old conflicts such as Northern Ireland and even Aden continue to blight the lives of many of those who served in them.

Operation Banner was the name given to the 38-year deployment of British troops in Northern Ireland, which only came to an end in 2007.

And Robert Lappin, a regional welfare officer for Combat Stress in southern Scotland, says the charity continues to see many former members of the KOSB.

“Our biggest case load remains those who served in Northern Ireland, including an awful lot of former KOSB soldiers,” he said.

“The KOSB spent a lot of time there and I think we’re going to see people needing help as a result of that for a good many years to come.”

Mr Lappin said part of the problem stems from ex-service personnel not coming from a culture where people speak openly about mental health issues.

“There is still a fear of stigma attached to it for many people, but that’s something we are desperately trying to reduce,” he said.

And Mr Lappin says Combat Stress is also keen that families and friends of ex-service personnel contact them if they are worried about someone.

Brigadier Allan Alstead is a former commanding officer of the KOSB who served with the regiment on numerous tours of duty in Northern Ireland.

“Many men would be unable to lead a positive life if it was not for the help that they receive from Combat Stress,” he told The Southern.

Missing archive material has been found and returned to the Auld Earlston local history group.

Last week, The Southern revealed how a box of items, including old photographs, had disappeared from a room being used by the club at the local primary school.

However, the mystery was solved when, on reading The Southern’s story, David Bisset from Borders Youth Theatre realised he had been the unwitting culprit.

The box of artefacts has now been retrieved from Earlston Library, where they had been deposited, and returned to Auld Earlston’s safekeeping, via its chairperson, Sheila McKay.

“I am responsible for the confusion. I mistakenly thought I was rescuing the material from likely disposal,” explained Mr Bisset. “I am now only too aware of the criticism which has centred on staff at Earlston Primary since the material was discovered to be missing.

“This is totally unfair and unjustified. I have spoken and apologised to Auld Earlston via Sheila McKay.

“I have spoken to the head teacher of Earlston Primary and am arranging to apologise to her and her staff.”

Mrs McKay said: “We’re delighted to have the artefacts returned and, as far as we are concerned, this draws a line under the matter.”

A family heirloom uncovered by Richard Stewart as he cleared out his attic landed him in the dock facing a possible jail sentence.

It was a knife with a four-inch blade which he stuffed in his back pocket before visiting the bank and then his local pub.

Stewart, 38, of Tweedmount Road, Melrose, appeared on indictment at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday and admitted having the knife in the beer garden of The Ship Inn.

The court heard a member of the public, walking in Melrose High Street, spotted the knife, within a sheath, in Stewart’s back pocket and contacted police.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said when police called at the pub, Stewart told them: “Yes, I have a knife in my pocket.”

Miss Bradley said: “This offence happened at the beer garden which had very few patrons at the time. The accused was there with a couple of friends.”

Solicitor Ross Dow said Stewart had been clearing out his home and added: “He found this family heirloom in the attic and put it in his pocket. He walked to the bank and then popped into the pub for a drink and simply forgot he had it. He had no antisocial or criminal intentions and was fully cooperative with police.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson told Stewart: “As has been said before, possession of a knife is a very serious matter. But it also has to be taken in context, and this appears to be at the lower end of the scale.”

The sheriff imposed a community payback order, with 70 hours of unpaid work.

THIS weekend sees the final matches in the 2013/14 Borders Badminton League as the season draws to a close with Duns looking likely to take the title.

Hard working coaches across the region have enjoyed one of their busiest season’s to date with success coming at all levels for local players.

Over 50 youngsters took part in the annual Borders Primary School Championships.

Quarter finalists in the boys event were Callum Smith, Isaac Weir, Tyler Smith, Callum Stokes and Fergus Murray all from Duns PS as well as Gareth Williams and Jamie Palmer (Howdenburn PS) and Martin Goldie (Drumlanrig PS) with C. Smith beating Stokes and Weir beating T. Smith in the semi finals. Eventual winner was Scottish squad player Callum Smith taking Isaac Weir in the final 21-5, 21-9.

In the girls competition there were some new players reaching the quarter finals - Kitty Morgan and Amber Malcolm (both Stirches PS), Jessica Mitchel and Iona Fox (Kingsland PS), Jodie Black and Ushika Kidd (Coldingham PS) and Amy Keneally, Lucy MacDonald both (Duns PS). Black beat Keneally and Fox beat Kidd to make it into the finals where Jodie Black became the eventual winner beating her friend Iona Fox 21-13, 21-9.

The Secondary School Championships saw 75 entries.

Medal Winners

U14 Boys Singles:

Winner: Eugene Stokes (BHS)

Runner up: Ninian Grant (EHS)

U14 Girls Singles:

Winner: Leona Rhind (BHS)

Runner up: Caitlyn Gillie (GAc)

U14 Boys Doubles:

Winners: Eugene Stokes & Ewan Harvey (BHS)

Runners up: Kyle Mitchell & Fraser Thomson (BHS)

U14 Girls Doubles:

Winners: Molly MacDonald & Leona Rhind (BHS)

Runners up: Sophie MacDonald & Catherine Marsh (EyHS)

U16 Boys Singles:

Winner: Robbie Patterson (EyHS)

Runner up: David McLeish (PHS)

U16 Girls Singles:

Winner: Linsey Young (KHS)

Runner up: Lizzie Edmondson (EyHS)

U16 Boys Doubles:

Winners: Robbie Patterson & Fraser Aitken (EyHS)

Runners up: Hamish Mackenzie & David McLeish (PHS)

U16 Girls Doubles:

Winners: Lizzie Edmondson & Kathryn Myatt (EyHS)

Runners up: Linsey Young & Florance Mace (KHS)

U18 Boys Singles:

Winner: Jake Drumm (BHS)

Runner up: Fraser Young (KHS)

U18 Girls Singles:

Winner: Joanne Deuchar (BHS)

Runner up: Katie Ross (BHS)

U18 Boys Doubles:

Winners: Jake Drumm & Rowan Stanforth (BHS)

Runners up: Fraser Young & Gordon Armstrong (KHS)

U18 Girls Doubles:

Winners: Joanne Deuchar & Katie Ross (BHS)

Runners up: Hana Murray & Hannah Turnbull (BHS)

Among the many other sucess stories Robbie Patterson (Eyemouth HS) and Annabel Young (Kelso HS) lifted U15 titles at the Scottish National Championships. Robbie is Boys Singles Champion and Annabel is Girls Doubles Champion. U15 Scottish Nationals.

For more video and news go to http://borders-badminton-group.co.uk/index.htm

HOLYROOD is backing a drive to get more people, including Borderers, to join the NHS Donor Register.

Two million Scottish residents have already signed – that’s 41 per cent of those who can – which is way ahead of the UK average of 32 per cent.

There are 600 on Scotland’s donor waiting list and health chiefs are keen for more people to agree to make vital organs available after their death.

Most of those on the waiting list require a kidney transplant.

Lisa Hertwig, 23, from Alloa, requires a double lung transplant.

She said: “A lot of people fear death, so won’t discuss organ donation. A dinner table conversation about what you want to happen when you die isn’t easy, but it could make a huge difference to someone who is waiting.”

A Scottish Government spokesman added: “If you believe in organ donation, then shout about it.”

This year’s Hawick Reivers Festival sees a busy programme, which kicks off on Friday, March 28, with Scocha in concert in the new venue of The Old Baths.

The Reivers market moves to the High Street and features Les Amis d’Onno, Border Clansmen and Best of Times Worst of Times demonstrating marching drills and sword play.

The birds of prey display returns and youngsters from four primary schools perform plays in St Mary’s Church. The Reivers Primary School games will run from 11.15am in the civic space.

Andrew Armstrong will present a talk at 1pm in the Heritage Hub looking at the fate of reiving families after the Union of the Crowns.

The torchlight procession leaves at 6.30pm from the Common Haugh, followed by fireworks in Wilton Lodge Park.

It is then back to the Old Baths for the first-ever Reivers Banquet which starts at 8.15pm.Sunday is the Reivers Walk, led by historian Ian Landles, leaving from the golf club car park at 9am and concluding with lunch and concert in the Old Baths at 12.30pm.

The weekend ends with a literary high tea, in the rugby club at 4.30pm, and talk on “Reiving and Bereaving”, supported by Billy Young of Langholm and ballads from Kathy Hobkirk and Henry Douglas. More at www.hawickreivers.com

A major new project to tackle the long-standing lack of youth service provision in Kelso was officially launched on Saturday.

Kelso Youth Project, which has been set up by the Cheviot Youth organisation with financial support from Scottish Borders Council, will see a number of evening drop-in sessions and after-school clubs throughout the year at the town’s Ace Centre.

These will be built around an integrated programme of art, film, music, sport and well-being activities staffed by qualified youth workers, sessional workers and volunteers.

For over a year, youth service providers worked to discover exactly what young people wanted in terms of service provision, culminating in more than 30 young people attending a youth summit in Kelso.

Local councillors Tom Weatherston and Simon Mountford attended the launch to show support, along with Conservative MSP John Lamont.

Mr Weatherston praised the hard work of the Cheviot Youth board and staff, together with SBC, which secured the funding needed.

“The joint working we see happening in Kelso between young people, volunteers, the staff of Cheviot Youth and SBC’s community learning and development team is an example of good practice fast becoming the way we do things in the Borders, and an example to the whole of the Scotland,” he said.

Scottish Borders Council marked Commonwealth Day on Monday by raising the Commonwealth flag.

The ceremony was led by Lord Lieutenant, Captain Gerald Maitland-Carew, and involved pupils from Newtown Primary School.

A ‘peanuts’ fund of £6,666.66 is up for grabs for any projects that improve local quality of life.

“It’s for anybody in the community,” Councillor Gordon Edgar told The Wee Paper, “for anything that improves quality of life for residents.”

Scottish Borders Council split the new £20,000 fund between the three wards of the Eildon Area Forum: Selkirkshire, Galashiels and District, and Leaderdale and Melrose.

A third of that amount – the £6,666.66 – has been given to Selkirkshire’s three councillors, Vicky Davidson, Gordon Edgar and Michelle Ballantyne, to distribute to any popular local causes of their choosing, in the year between April 1 2014 and March 31 2015.

“The remit is very large,” Cllr Ballantyne told us.

“We haven’t done it before, so it’ll be interesting what comes forward.”

Applicants are invited to send their proposals in writing to the three councillors, but they’ll face competition within Selkirk, Ashkirk, Lilliesleaf, Midlem, Newtown St Boswells, and the Ettrick and Yarrow valleys.

“It’s not a big pot of money, but it can make a difference,” Cllr Edgar said, while Cllr Davidson advised: “If we don’t use it to match fund other sources, it won’t last long.”

But Selkirk Community Councillor Ian King dismissed the fund at their meeting last Monday as ‘peanuts’, when the council is cutting so many services.

“They’re taking away green bins, not filling pot holes, all these cutbacks, and they’re handing back sweeties,” he told The Wee Paper.

Raiders made off with jewellery worth over £33,000 after breaking into a house in Melrose at the weekend.

Police in the Borders are now appealing for witnesses following the break-in, during which a tablet device was also stolen from the house in Waverley Road while the owners were on holiday.

The incident is being progressed by Operation RAC and anyone who can assist police with their enquiries is asked to come forward.

Constable Corrine Bird said: “Officers were called to Waverley Road at around 10am on Saturday, March 15, after a neighbour spotted that a house on the street had been broken into.

“An ipad2 and jewellery worth more than £33,000 were taken and other items were recovered in a neighbouring field.

“Police have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries and we urge anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to come forward.”

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or, alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.