Selkirk’s footballers face arguably their biggest challenge of the season on Saturday as they bid to keep clinging on to their Lowland League status.

Table-topping East Kilbride – defeated only twice in the league campaign this term – are the visitors to Yarrow Park as they aim to continue their stride towards title glory.

Selkirk boss Ian Fergus knows few people will give the hosts a chance but he is hoping for a worthy response from his side.

“East Kilbride have flooded their team even more with folk coming in from professional clubs and their mindset is on trying to be promoted,” he said. “They will be expecting to beat us comfortably, I am sure – and everybody else in the league will be expecting that as well. The only expectation I have from my players is to go out and make it very, very difficult for them and play to the best of their ability.

“If we go out and enjoy a game that we’re expected to get absolutely nothing from, and just keep our football going, hopefully there will be a performance.”

Fergus added: “It’s a massive game, we are the underdogs, and the league table does not lie. East Kilbride have been the best team in it all season.

“We will have to show them we have made the strides to improve. If we get something out of the game, I don’t think it will be a complete surprise to me, but it will be a complete surprise to a lot of other folk.”

A 75th-minute Kerr Scott goal helped Selkirk to a deserved 1-1 draw and a share of the points on Saturday against a greatly-improved BSC Glasgow.

Selkirk had chances to win it but Fergus felt a draw was possibly a fair reflection against perhaps the best team they had played so far under his tenure.

“It was a very good point and I think it was a deserved point but take nothing away from BSC – they are a vastly improved side,” he said. “We went there expecting a very hard game and that’s exactly what we got. That said, we were very much in that game and we passed the ball as well as they did.

“The boys have done really well – they are understanding how I want them to play.”

Jed-Forest, the only lower league side still in this season’s BT Scottish Cup competition, have a trip to Ayr awaiting them in the quarter-finals.

Yesterday’s draw for the ties in the last eight, to be played on Saturday, March 4, paired Jammy McFarlane’s troops with the high-flying Premiership side.

Jed gained a walkover from the last 16 when scheduled opponents, Aberdeenshire, withdrew from the tournament because of a shortage of squad members.

Before the draw, McFarlane said he knew it would be a tough competition, because of the heavy presence of Premiership teams, but Jed wanted to do well and “pit their wits” against the leading sides.

Also hoping to ensure a Borders representation in the later stages are Gala, who face a difficult visit to Glasgow Hawks, and Melrose, who are at home against Heriot’s.

The remaining tie sees Sirling County at home to Boroughmuir.

Farmer Russell Mackay has been annouced as Melrosian elect for 2017.

The 21-year-old will take on the role as Melrose’s main man for the summer, and he was introduced at the Ex-Melrosians’ Association’s annual Burns Supper at the Greenyards on Saturday evening.

He was congratulated by festival chairman Michael Crawford, and he wished him well for the coming months and presented him with his official festival tie.

A keen follower of the festival since his school days at Melrose Grammar, Russell was in the court in 2007, but he admits that he never dreamt that two decades on, he would be taking on the duty of being Melrosian.

“I was a herald in the court and have been following the festival since I was at school, but in all honesty, I probably didn’t ever think I would be Melrosian 20 years later, but I am glad the opportunity is here to do it now.”

Born and raised in the town and a former Earlston High School pupil, Russell recently returned to the Borders following three years studying environmental geography at Stirling University.

He played rugby for Melrose Rugby Club growing up and is currently a member of Melrose Golf Club.

He now works full-time at Thornielaw Farm near St Boswells, but he should have no problems with securing time off work as the farm is owned by his stepdad Eric Marshall and mum Karen.

His dad Richie Mackay and stepmum Jane will also be supporting him, alongside his twin brother Cameron, elder sister Lauren and younger sister Lexie.

“They are all delighted,” he said. “They have all been very supportive and happy for me and are looking forward to the summer to come.”

Delighted at the prospect of representing the town across its own festival and those of the other surrounding towns this summer, Russell will be relying on his left and right- hand men Donald Crawford and Struan Hutchison.

Russell added: “I have been good friends with both of them for a long time, so it’s great that I have got them as left and right-hand men to support me.”

“My sister Lexie also rides, so she is planning to follow on horseback for some of the other common riding rideouts.

“It’s good to have her support, although she has been taking the mick out of me learning.”

Despite having followed the festival intently for most of his life, Russell is yet to follow on horseback and has begun an intense routine of riding lessons over the last few weeks and says he is looking forward to following as many rides as possible across the other festivals.

He added: “I am looking forward to the summer now and getting on with it.”

“We had a good night on Saturday, and it’s great to have it all out in the open now.”

His first official duty will be the picking night, to be held on Friday, May 5.

The Burns supper was chaired by Bryn Thom, with Michael Crawford addressing the haggis and Ian Crawford providing the immortal memory.

The toast to Melrose town and trade was delivered by Rory Murray and Ian Oliver gave the reply.

Last year’s Melrosian, Struan Hutchison, gave the toast to the lasses, replied to by Claire Nairn.

The vote of thanks was given by Donald Crawford.

Donald Swanson piped in the haggis, carried by Fraser Anderson, and Drew Scott entertained with songs.

Hawick breathed a sigh of relief after tomorrow (Friday) night’s Border League clash with Selkirk was psotponed.

The call-off will give the injury depleted Greens some much-needed rest ahead of their BT Premiership relegation run-in.

A lack of a front-row, combined with a number of players missing through injury or on Scotland Under-20 duty, meant the MAnsfield Park men were struggling to pull enough fit players together for the game.

Selkirk mercifully agreed yesterday to postpone the fixture, with a view to re-scheduling at a later undecided date, while the Souters are set to play a development game at Peebles instead.

Hawick assistant coach Scott MacLeod had earlier urged caution ahead of the contest against the National Division One side after a gruelling BT Cup match against Gala had further depleted the Greens’ already thin squad.

“It’s a tough game to think about, as we are already down a number of players,” MacLeod said before the postponement.

“We lost another bunch on Saturday against Gala, which wasn’t ideal. We basically are down too many guys right now and cannot afford to lose any more.

“We lost Callum Macintosh and Matt Landles in the front row (against Gala), which was already a trouble spot for us, so looking at Friday night, we honestly couldn’t afford to lose any more to injuries, otherwise we’re in serious trouble the rest of the way.”

MacLeod added: “We basically don’t have the depth right now to be playing every weekend and, with such important games coming up, Friday was a very tough game to be planning for.”

The Newcastle Falcons lock, in his second year as assistant to head coach Nikki Walker, admitted risking players against a tough Border outfit like Selkirk, with a number of bodies missing, was going to be difficult to navigate with a relegation showdown looming.

“Guys like Bruce McNeil and Stuart Graham would be playing to prove their fitness but I’d be gutted if they were to pick up an injury and be out against Gala,” said MacLeod.

“Any time you play for Hawick, it’s important – but some games are a bit more important than others. The Gala game next weekend is huge, so having everyone fit and ready is key.”

More than 50 new jobs will be created in Galashiels over the next five years.

Pharmaceutical firm Kyowa Kirin International, formerly known as ProStrakan, has announced it plans to expand its headquarters within Galashiels Business Park following increased profits last year.

The company, reported a record turnover of £251m for 2016 - growth of 13% over the previous year’s revenues of £222m.

Kyowa Kirin International (KKI) has taken out a 10 year lease on the 10,000 square feet building beside its existing headquarters and has gained planning permission to build a link building between the two.

Creating a combined total footprint of 35,000 square feet, this is an increase of 40% over its existing building, in which almost 150 staff are based.

Lucy Alkin-Young, KKI’s office manager, who is project managing the development, said: “We’ve been growing so fast that we were simply running out of room in our existing head office, so the expansion is being welcomed by the whole team. Our extended facility will provide us with a headquarters that is appropriate for an international pharmaceutical company.”

Once construction of the link building has been completed, KKI plans to refurbish its existing headquarters building.

Work on the extension, which will create room for more than 50 new staff, is expected to be completed by Autumn this year.

President and CEO Dr Tom Stratford, said: “This development underlines our commitment to Galashiels and to Scotland as an excellent location from which to operate a truly international pharmaceutical business.

“The business is growing at pace and we are proud of what we have achieved since joining Kyowa Hakko Kirin in 2011. Our turnover has grown from £105m to £251m in that time, overall staff numbers have more than doubled to stand at almost 600 today and we recently filed for European approval of the first of Kyowa Hakko Kirin’s pipeline products.”

KKI’s property advisers for the project are Eric Young and Company, with design work being undertaken by design consultants, Cubit3D and project management by PMP.

Formerly known as ProStrakan, the firm was founded by Dr Stratford’s father Harry in Melrose nearly 22 years ago.

ProStrakan was taken over by the Japanese firm Kyowa Hakko Kirin in 2011 and rebranded as part of a move to become a global speciality pharmaceutical company.

KHK’s western pharmaceutical subsidiaries, including specialist divisions employing another 350 people outwith the Borders, also came under the Kyowa Kirin name, and since the takeover 20 new staff,including several qualified medics, have joined its Galashiels workforce.

A record number of entries has been put forward for the world’s biggest schools pipe band event, which will be held in Edinburgh next month.

The Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPTD), which organises the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, is celebrating after an unprecedented 76 school pipe bands and freestyle ensembles as well as 11 quartets for young pipers from across Scotland signed up for the competition, which takes place at Edinburgh’s James Gillespie’s High School on March 12.

The competition – which attracts about 800 youngsters from around 120 schools – was established to encourage the formation of school pipe bands and it covers a broad range of abilities from those with no competing experience to those who compete at the highest level.

Alexandra Duncan, SSPTD chief executive, said the number of entries reflects the interest among pupils in becoming involved with bands.

She said: “We are delighted to be hosting the championships once more. The record number of entries signals the popularity of piping and drumming are in schools. There is huge interest amongst pupils keen to learn.

“Our Trust helps to sustain Scotland’s musical heritage by co-developing piping and drumming tuition in state schools, in partnership with councils, schools and community pipe bands.

“The Trust also helps to raise attainment in schools because pipe band players develop complex skills for life, learning and work including teamwork, perseverance, a sense of discipline and self-confidence.”

The SSPDT has also revealed plans to double its vital funding through its schools programme, giving pupils the chance to learn the pipes and drums on the same basis as other instruments.

In its first year, more than 1,000 pupils across 93 state schools received tuition under SSPTD schemes, which has now risen to 1600 pupils.

But the charity has said it is prepared to invest £500,000 in tuition and loaning instruments in 2017 to ensure even more young people can be taught.

Ms Duncan added: “The vast majority of our young people are not offered the chance to learn our national instruments in schools.

“We are pleased to be working closely with local authorities who are increasingly seeing the benefits of offering piping and drumming alongside other instruments in schools, often in areas where pipe bands can help to close the attainment gap.

“We are delighted to see the programme grow and for new pipe bands to be formed to become a focus of pride for schools and communities.”

Fjordhus Reivers 2s 3, Livingston & West Lothian 0

The first game back after the winter break can often be a scrappy affair.

However, the Reivers 2s ladies turned on the style last weekend with a very confident and accomplished performance against a gritty Livingston side.

After a nervous first couple of minutes, and the defence of a penalty corner, the home side settled down and went to work with some slick passing and good movement, which proved difficult for their Livingston opponents to cope with.

The Reivers ladies worked tirelessly for each other, both in defence and attack, and were justly rewarded when skipper Ashley Robson turned the ball into the net from the back post after one of their many forays into the Livingston circle.

Reivers continued to press, both through the middle channel, with a confident Lauren Grant relishing her role in midfield, and Rachel Shiel and Emma Spence working hard down the flank. This, complemented by Laura Mclean tearing the defence apart with her trademark gallops, saw the Reivers in full flow.

Livingston had to try to change things around after the half-time break – however, the Reivers repelled their sporadic attacks with Jackie Wilson, Emma Grieve and Jenny Sharp to the fore in defence.

Midway through the second half, from a cleverly-worked penalty corner, the home side doubled their advantage, but such was their mindset that this was not enough.

Making clever and effective use of a strong bench, they played persistent, attacking hockey throughout the second period. This culminated in a fine third goal being scored by young Jodie Sinclair.

It wan an excellent Reivers performance, summed up in the dying minutes when a superb sweeping move saw the ball worked through seven players, over the length and breadth of the pitch, with Lauren Grant’s final strike on goal only being denied by a desperate Livingston stick.

In this form, the Reivers 2s ladies will relish the remainder of the season, in which they hope they’ll be a match for any team in the division.

Gala Harriers’ award-winning ladies’ masters team struck gold for the third successive year at the Scottish Masters Cross County Championships in Dundee last weekend.

Running in cold, damp conditions, the club’s three counting runners Dianne Lauder, Fiona Dalgleish and Anya Campbell were second, 12th and 14th respectively, with their combined finishing positions securing gold for the Harriers in the women’s 6K race at the city’s Camperdown Park.

Dianne finished only six seconds behind race winner Lesley Chisholm (W40), of Garscube Harriers, to win silver in her age category (W40), with team mate Fiona Dalgleish picking up bronze in the W45

age category.

Kate Jenkins (W40) concluded in 17th, with Rachel Fagan (W40) 28th, Gillian Duncan (W45) 38th, Lindsay Dun (W50) 41st and Dawn Grant (W45) in 70th position in a field of 117 runners. The winning time was 24.40.

In the 8km men’s race, there was a large field of 295 runners, with Rory Campbell (M45) the first Harrier home in 82nd position.

Bob Johnson (M55) was 159th, with Ian Maxwell (M55) close behind in 161st and Magnus Inglis (M40) in 195th.

The race was won by Shettleston Harrier Jethro Lennox in a time of 27.44.

The Scottish Parliament will have a vote on Tuesday on the triggering of Article 50 to begin the formal process of leaving the European Union

The debate, however, will not involve a formal legislative consent motion although it will allow the Parliament to give its clear view on the UK Government’s Bill.

This week’s vote in the House of Commons saw only one of Scotland’s 59 MPs vote for the Bill triggering of Article 50, while in the EU referendum 62 per cent of people across Scotland voted to remain in the EU.

The Supreme Court ruled that there is no legally enforceable need for devolved administrations to give consent to the Brexit trigger bill.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon argued, however, that there is still a political need to do so, and pledged to let MSPs vote.

The Scottish Government believes that given the fundamental change to constitutional arrangements involved by triggering formal withdrawal, and the direct effects on the devolved responsibilities, the Scottish Parliament should give its view before the Bill is passed, and that the UK Government should respect the views of the Parliament.

Michael Russell, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, said: “The people of Scotland did not vote for Brexit, and only one of the nation’s 59 MPs has now backed the UK Government by voting for the triggering Article 50.

“It is now essential that the Scottish Parliament’s views are heard prior to the end of the Committee Stage of the Article 50 Bill in the House of Commons, so we will lodge a motion to allow Parliament to express its view.

“A formal LCM would have to go through committee deliberation before Parliament as a whole was able to vote on it – a timetable incompatible with the accelerated timescale to which Westminster is now working.

“The Prime Minister has made numerous statements and commitments to Scotland that there would be an agreed UK-wide approach to Brexit. And the UK Government has now published a white paper which claims ‘The UK Government acts in the interests of the whole UK’.

“Those claims will only be meaningful if the voice of Scotland’s Parliament is respected. Triggering Article 50 will have profound impacts on devolved responsibilities and on the powers of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. It is therefore right that the Scottish Parliament expresses its view.

“When the motion is debated by MSPs next week it will be a chance for our national Parliament to send a powerful signal on behalf of the people we are elected to serve. And I believe that Parliament will send a resounding message that Scotland’s future is in Europe.”

Named player of the tournament for the most recent RBS 6 Nations, Hawick-born Stuart Hogg is once again holding the key to Scotland’s success – at least according to England’s Ben Youngs.

The versatile Hogg was at times in mesmerising form in 2016, starting every game of the Championship while also closing out his campaign with tries against Ireland and France.

Beyond those scores, deft of touch and beautiful handwork – leading to two tries against Italy and one when facing France – made the rugby world take note.

It led to Scotland finishing fourth in the Championship, defeating both France and Italy, with plenty more expected this time around.

And for Youngs, Grand Slam winner under Eddie Jones just 12 months ago, the warning signs are undoubtedly there for England’s defensive unit to take heed of when the two meet at Twickenham in round four in March.

“Stuart had a fantastic Six Nations last year. Some of the things he was doing were pretty special ,so we have to be wary of that,” said Youngs.

“He’s got the speed and he’s got the skill and has the ability to do a lot on the pitch – even if he’s not the man scoring the tries, he’s always heavily involved.

“I’ve played against him a couple of times for Leicester Tigers against Glasgow Warriors and he’s done well there. I’m sure he’ll be a big part of Scotland’s chances across the tournament.

“But they have a lot of strong players – Matt Scott and Greig Laidlaw are guys I know at Gloucester and there are a lot of important guys in what is becoming a stronger team.”

While Youngs is aware of an improvement in the Scotland ranksin recent times, there are plenty of other challengers to England’s Six Nations crown – just their second since lifting the World Cup in 2003.

In Ireland, Youngs and co are set to face the side that ended New Zealand’s 18-game unbeaten run, while Wales’ three victories in their autumn internationals was their best haul since 2002.

Couple that with Italy defeating South Africa and France running both New Zealand and Australia close, and Youngs is unsurprisingly forecasting one of the closest RBS 6 Nations in recent memory.

“If you look across the board, it should be one of the most competitive Six Nations to be a part of,” he added. “It’s going to be fantastic. Each team has had some impressive performances and some big results. We know that’s going to lead to some big competition.

“Each will be a massive test, France first up is a battle and Italy always give it their all and are getting results to go with it.

“Whatever happens, it’s going to be exciting. You look at every nation and there are plenty of strengths, they’re all in good form.

“There’s no hiding that the British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand in the summer is the golden egg at the end, every player will be doing their all and history shows a team that’s successful in a 6 Nations has good Lions representation.”

(Ben Youngs is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover continues to champion grassroots rugby through its We Deal In Real campaign. @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal)

Selkirk FC could find themselves under the gaze of a few additional pairs of eyes as they take on East Kilbride at home tomorrow (Saturday).

A group of Hamilton Academical supporters, known as ‘WeAreHamilton’, plans to boycott Accies’ game against Kilmarnock – and go and watch Lowland League leaders East Kilbride instead.

The action is in protest at the South Lanarkshire side’s form in the Premiership under manager Martin Canning, although it could mean the attendance figure – and possibly the revenue – at Yarrow Park is swollen somewhat.

Souters boss Ian Fergus said: “I think we will welcome them to Yarrow Park – they are more than welcome.

“They’ll be well treated – there is a bar there and we’ll give them a good experience.

“They will probably see quite a good game of football, although they may not be supporting Selkirk.”

Fergus, an ex-17s youth team coach at Hamilton, said he had worked with Martin Canning and Alex Neil, and they were “terrific guys”.

Sympathising with the fans and the club, he added: “It’s a real misfortune for Hamilton because they are a terrific club. I had a lot of good experiences there and I know the guys well.

“I hope they get out of the predicament they are in at the moment. They have one of the best youth academies in the country and anybody that knows anything about Hamilton knows they produce excellent players.

“I think they will stay up and I hope the fans stick by their team.”

The first international celebration of the ‘Water of Life’ will be held next Friday (February 10).

An initiative of leading Scotch whisky business Diageo, the event will see the company open all of its Scottish distillery visitor centres free of charge, as well as opening the Diageo Archive at Menstrie, near Alloa, to the public for the first time.

The facility houses the biggest drinks industry archive in the world with a collection of over 10,000 bottles and more than half a million items including documents, advertising material, bottles, books and memorabilia.

Diageo has a network of 12 visitor centres at iconic Scotch whisky distilleries - Blair Athol, Caol Ila, Cardhu, Clynelish, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Glen Ord, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar and Talisker.

Ronan Beirne, Diageo’s global marketing director, said the company has launched International Scotch Day to help raise awareness and deepen knowledge of Scotch around the world.

He said: “Scotch has been built on its integrity, quality and authenticity and no other spirit can offer the same range of tastes, textures and flavours. Trends come and go but Scotch has been cool since forever and we feel it’s time to properly celebrate that.

“We’re delighted that in Scotland we will be opening up our unrivalled network of distillery visitor centres and our unique global archive for free tours so everyone in the homeland of Scotch can join us for the day of celebration.”

International Scotch Day has been introduced as part of #LoveScotch, a global movement from Diageo, for people to share their love of the world’s favourite whisky.

Full details of the distilleries can be found at: www.discovering-distilleries.com and tours of the company’s archive will limited to 50, available on a first-come-first-served basis. To register for a tour e-mail archive.menstrie@diageo.com

A promising young hockey player has hopefully given a big boost to the Borders men’s game.

Selected at 13 – and now just turned 14 – he is the youngest member of the Scotland u16 line-up.

Borders hockey development officer Janet Jack – who coincidentally happens to be his mother – said it was a great step forward for the local game.

“It is brilliant for Borders hockey and breaking the mould in a very rugby-orientated region,” she said.

Charlie is something of a veteran of the sport, despite his tender years, and mum quipped he had been “dragged to every pitch I have coached at since he was in his pushchair!”

She added: “He just picked up a stick and played at the side of the pitch, and, if I think of all the hundreds of hours of coaching I have done, he has had plenty of time to practise!”

Charlie began playing ‘officially’ at primary school, with Claire Townsend as coach, when he was part of the Earlston Participation Centre for the Fjordhus Reivers Club u12s.

He moved in to the U14 Reivers mixed squad at Tweedbank and the U14 Reivers boys’ squad, also at Tweedbank. The U14 mixed squad plays in the East U14 League on Sunday mornings in Edinburgh.

He was also invited in to the Borders Hockey Advanced Development squad, where he trained last year, and also was involved in the Selkirk High School, School of Hockey programme, which was run for S1 and S2 pupils.

Three boys from the Fjordhus Reivers club travelled to Glasgow recently to attend a talent ID day and it was from this event that Charlie got his call-up in to the Scotland u16 Development squad. Selections have not been made for matches yet, although he has a few weekends of training with the squad over the coming months, and has three years to play in this age group.

Janet said: “I would have been delighted if any of the boys had been successful in gaining a place in a Scottish squad.

“It has been one of my major aims as the Borders hockey development officer to increase the awareness and participation rate of boys in hockey.

“I am hoping this will encourage more boys to play, not instead of other sports, but as well as other sports. I am a huge believer that children should have the opportunity to play lots of different sports.”

A post on the club’s Facebook page said: “Well done Charlie Jack, from all of us at Fjordhus Reivers, on becoming the first boy from the club to be selected in to a Scottish squad.

“You have worked hard to earn a place in the Scottish U16 boys Development squad and we are sure you will be a great ambassador for the club and an inspiration for all boys in the Borders Region who are keen to progress in the sport.”

The first spring salmon of the season on the River Tweed has been landed.

Hertfordshire angler Rob Jameson made the lucky catch yesterday (Thursday) while fishing on Birgham Dub, on the Hedge End pool.

He hooked the 16lb Springer, a hen fish, while assisted by boatman Brian Douglas, early in the morning on a Temple Shrimp, Hardy 15’ Swift, Angel reel, and AFS line.

The fish, once verified, was safely released back into the river.

In keeping with tradition, a presentation of the Tweedside Tackle Trophy – crafted by local artist Jason Sweeney in 2007 – was presented to Rob by Caroline Pilcher, of Tweedside Tackle in Bridge Street, Kelso.

Rob is the 11th angler to win this prestigious prize and, in addition to the trophy (which remains on show in the shop), he received a certificate and a Tweedside Tackle goodie bag.

Meanwhile, the Tweedside Tackle Decanter is still up for grabs, as the first salmon of the season has still to be caught from KAA Teviot Water.

Borders band Frightened Rabbit have added a third summer festival date to the two they announced last week.

As well as Kendal Calling in Cumbria in July and Electric Fields near Dumfries in September, the folk-rock act will be playing at the Victorious Festival on the south coast of England, at Portsmouth, in August.

Fans of theirs from their home town of Selkirk face a tougher test of their loyalty this time round, though, as the Hampshire port is an 800-mile round trip away, as opposed to 160 miles to Lowther Deer Park and back or 140 miles to and from Drumlanrig Castle.

Now in its sixth year, the seaside event offers a line-up many will consider good enough to merit 12 or more hours on the road, having secured pop veterans Madness, Welsh rockers Stereophonics and alternative rock act Elbow as headliners.

Singer-songwriter Jake Bugg, rock trio Feeder, alt-rock outfit Sundara Karma, rapper Lady Leshurr, lo-fi quartet Palace, Scottish art rock act Franz Ferdinand, post-punk duo Slaves and singer-songwriter KT Tunstall are also among those announced as being on the bill so far, along with Frightened Rabbit, formed in Selkirk in 2003 but based in Glasgow since 2004.

Festival director Andy Marsh: “We are immensely proud of this year’s line-up.

“We’ve worked really hard to secure the very best acts – band and artists we personally love. We literally have the crown jewels of the British music industry night after night, and we still have so much more to announce.

“It’s going to be a legendary weekend, the best Victorious yet. We can’t wait until August. It’s going to be incredible.”

It’s on from Friday, August 25, to Sunday, August 27, and early-bird tickets, on sale now, cost £25 for the first day and £32 each for the other two.

For further details, go to www.victoriousfestival.co.uk

Parents spend more time taking care of household chores than they do playing with their children, a recent study has found.

Day-to-day admin tasks and cleaning jobs mean parents are struggling to get quality time with their children, but many admit that ignoring the chores leaves them feeling too stressed.

The survey, by bed giant Slumberdown, also revealed that more than three quarters said they need to completely leave the house in order to really make the most of time with their little ones.

And 83 per cent have days where household chores and other commitments leave them feeling like they have not spent any real time with their children at all.

The study found the average parent spends almost four hours a day - the equivalent of more than 59 full days a year - completing household chores, which equates to two months every year.

In comparison, just three hours and 28 minutes a week, or 52 days a year, are spent enjoying time with their children.

The company is now offering parents the opportunity to have their housework done for a year so they can spend quality time with their offspring.

Sally Hotchin, Slumberdown brand manager, said: “Family lives are becoming busier than ever, and unfortunately this means the quality time we get to spend with our children is decreasing.

“That’s why at Slumberdown we are on a mission to help mums make the most of their time with their kids. So mums can focus on being a partner in crime to their children and put the housework to one side every now and again.”

The study of 2,000 parents found that 88 per cent feel they spend a large chunk of their time on household chores and 79 per cent feel like these daily tasks get in the way of spending quality time with their family.

As a result, 86 per cent of parents wish they had more time to spend with their children away from the distraction of the household chores.

More than four in 10 even said their children had made comments or complained about the time they spend cleaning the house rather than playing with them but eight in 10 say they would need to ignore the cleaning or household jobs in order to have enough time with their children; 71 per cent say they find it difficult to leave the chores to pile up.

Sally added: “We’ve come up with a whole load of ingenious ideas for games you can play with the kids without leaving the comfort of your own home. We are also running a national competition to win your house work done for a year, giving one lucky winner more time for fun.”

Further information about the fund of suggested activities and the competition can be found at http://slumberdown.co.uk/win-housework/

A pensioner was jailed for eight years yesterday after being convicted of repeated sex attacks on two young girls, one of them described as vulnerable, in the Borders in the 1990s.

William Wilkinson, now 79, targeted the girls at locations in Galashiels and Stow between 1993 and 2000, a court heard.

A judge sitting at the High Court in Edinburgh told Wilkinson: “I recognise that at the age of 79 you have not been sent to prison before for any significant length of time.”

Lord John Beckett said he took into account the pensioner’s age and that he was suffering from various medical conditions but said that a lengthy spell behind bars was unavoidable.

The judge told him: “You have been convicted of a serious course of criminal conduct, sexually abusing two young and vulnerable children.”

He added that one of Wilkinson’s victims was especially vulnerable because of her learning difficulties.

Lord Beckett said his crimes were so serious that it was necessary to impose a substantial prison sentence on the child sex offender to mark their gravity and to act as a deterrent to others.

He also told Wilkinson, of Ladyschaw Drive in Selkirk, that he would remain on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

The pensioner had earlier denied two charges of indecency against a girl when she was between nine and 15 and raping her when she was aged between nine and 11.

He also pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting the second girl when she was aged between 11 and 12.

Wilkinson was found guilty of all those charges after trial, however.

He locked the first victim in a portable cabin and took her to secluded areas to carry out sex acts on her and make her perform sexual activity on him, an ordeal she found so horrific it caused her to be sick, the court heard.

He also indecently assaulted the second girl at a golf range in the Borders, the hearing was told.

Defence counsel Victoria Dow told the court that Wilkinson still maintained he was innocent despite the findings against him, saying: “He continues to deny the offences.”

She accepted that he had a previous conviction for a similar offence and asked the judge to take account of his age and state of health when sentencing him for his crimes.

Two big-name fashion chains look set to quit Galashiels.

That blow for the town centre follows confirmation by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that it is to relocate its Galashiels JobCentre Plus from its current High Street home to the Channel Street premises currently occupied by Burton and Dorothy Perkins, both clothing brands owned by Philip Green’s Arcadia Group.

The adjacent retail outlets are just a stone’s throw from the former post office and Poundstretcher buildings set to become home to a £6.7m visitor centre for the Great Tapestry of Scotland due to open in 2020.

The DWP move from its decade-old home at New Reiver House is part of a streamlining of its underused built estate, reflecting customers’ increased use of the internet to access benefits.

A spokesperson for the department confirmed the impending move will go ahead but was unable to provide details of when it would take place.

The Arcadia Group did not respond to inquiries regarding possible relocation of the two shops and their staff elsewhere in the town or region.

However, in 2013, the group, also including the Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Wallis brands, announced a programme to close up to 260 stores, attributing a fall in profits to an increase in online retailing.

After the recent closure of another Dorothy Perkins shop elsewhere, a company spokesperson said: “We are constantly reviewing our store portfolio, and leases continually expire.

“When leases expire that we do not renew, we endeavour to redeploy staff to another store within the group as much as can.”

The Channel Street outlets were marketed by estate agents as being available for lease last year.

Tweeddale East councillor Stuart Bell, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for economic development, said he believed the jobcentre move would require planning consent.

“While I would prefer to see retail businesses located on a thoroughfare like Channel Street, it’s also important to minimise the number of empty premises in our town centres,” said Mr Bell.

“I backed the move three years ago to dispense with the planning condition that some main streets should be designated as prime retail frontages and that we, as a planning authority, should view them instead less proscriptively as prime activity areas.

“Under the previous designation, a gym, for example, would not have been allowed in Channel Street, but now that would be permitted.

“The jobcentre is not just an office. It is a place where people go to access information about job opportunities.

“I would certainly rather see it located in Channel Street than see another empty frontage.”

Spending a penny is to cost 30 times that proverbial amount at most of the Borders’ public conveniences.

Scottish Borders Council is to introduce a 30p charge at 27 of its 41 public conveniences across the region in the hope of narrowing a revenue funding gap of £9m over the next financial year.

The selected facilities will be unstaffed, but they will be fitted with automated machines affording paying customers access via a paddle-gate entry system.

Charging is not deemed to be viable at the authority’s other 14 toilets because they are not used often enough, but they will continue to be maintained by the council.

The move, approved at this week’s meeting of the authority’s executive committee, is predicted to deliver annual revenue savings of £211,000.

The council spends £323,000 a year maintaining the current level of free provision, the meeting heard.

“Given the financial context, doing nothing is not an option,” stated Jason Hedley, the council’s area manager for neighbourhood services, in a report to the executive, stressing that the council had no statutory obligation to provide public conveniences.

He acknowledged that the possibility of the council closing down its entire network had been considered, but he said that would be potentially negative for the economic performance of the Borders and discriminatory against certain groups and places where no alternative provision in public buildings, pubs or restaurants could be identified.

He added: “Provision of public conveniences must change to ensure a financial and environmentally efficient service can be maintained.”

Having reviewed usage and researched how other Scottish local authorities operated, Mr Hedley recommended that a 30p charge be introduced at the authority’s public toilets in Eyemouth at the Bantry car park and harbour, at Coldstream’s courthouse car park, at St Abbs Harbour, at Coldingham Sands and in Duns at Briery Baulk.

Charges are also on the way at loos in Galashiels at its High Street car park, Bank Street gardens and transport interchange; in Hawick at the Common Haugh, Howegate and Volunteer Park; in Peebles at Kingsmeadows, the Eastgate car park and School Brae; in Jedburgh at Lothian Park and its tourist information centre; in Kelso at Shedden Park and Woodmarket; Selkirk Market Place; Innerleithen’s Hall Street; the Avenue in Lauder; Earlston bus station; St Boswells’ Main Street; Melrose’s Abbey Place; Newcastleton’s Langholm Street; and St Mary’s Loch in the Yarrow Valley.

Mr Hedley said stakeholders including community councils, would be advised of the decision “during the first half of 2017” and implementation would be phased in thereafter.

Councillors heard that the cost of adapting the 27 toilets would be £200,000 and that annual gross income is estimated at £357,000.

The council’s annual manpower costs will remain the same at around £151,000.

Tweeddale West councillor Catriona Bhatia asked for a final decision to be delayed until the council’s budget meeting next Thursday to give elected members time to consider the list of facilities where charging would be introduced, but the executive voted 7-5 to approve Mr Hedley’s recommendation for implementation.

This will not be the first time the council has charged the public to use its toilets.

Up until 2008, a 25p charge was levied at eight staffed locations – in Hawick, Selkirk Galashiels, Melrose, Jedburgh, Kelso, St Boswells and Peebles – but the scheme was abandoned as its annual staffing costs of £177,000 outstripped its income of £65,000.

The council-run toilets that will remain free to use are those at Chirnside, Greenlaw, Burnmouth, Cockburnspath, Jedburgh’s Lothian car park, Kelso’s Croft Park, Yetholm, Morebattle, Greenyards in Melrose, Selkirk’s Scotts Place, Denholm, West Linton and Broughton.

Two Hawick councillors have been cleared of acting unethically by writing a letter to the press taking issue with a report by a senior Scottish Borders Council officer.

Watson McAteer and Stuart Marshall, both independents representing the council’s Hawick and Denholm ward, welcomed that decision by Bill Thomson, commissioner for ethical standards in public life in Scotland.

“This has been hanging over us for six months, and I’m relieved we have been cleared of any wrongdoing,” said Mr Marshall, also honorary provost for Hawick.

Mr Thomson’s ruling was in response to a complaint submitted by the council on behalf of Bryan McGrath, its chief economic development officer, alleging that the pair had breached its elected members’ code of conduct.

That protocol demands that councillors “must respect all council employees and the role they play and treat them with courtesy at all times” and “should not raise matters relating to the conduct and capability of employees in public”.

The case relates to a written update on the progress of the Hawick action plan discussed at a full council meeting in June last year.

The paper, written by Mr McGrath, stated: “There is a risk that a self-fulfilling negativity is becoming entrenched in the community.”

On July 22, the Hawick News published a letter by the two councillors saying Mr McGrath’s report was “unwelcome and unwarranted” and alleged the officer had “taken it upon himself to issue a hollow and irrelevant warning to councillors of a self-fulfilling negativity becoming entrenched in Hawick”.

“Our call is for less words and more direct and meaningful action, with council officers doing their job by sticking to the facts and not engaging in political or emotional debate,” they concluded.

In his determination of the complaint, Mr Thomson states: “The letter included phrases which, in the opinion of the complainer, showed disrespect towards Mr McGrath and could have been regarded as criticism.

“However, the letter from the respondents was effectively in response to political comments made by officers who had approved the content of a report under the authorship of Mr McGrath.

“I was satisfied that the comments made by the respondents could be regarded as fair and, as such, did constitute unwarranted and specific criticism of Mr McGrath.”

Mr McAteer told us: “Stuart and I have been subjected to quite unnecessary uncertainty simply because we responded to something we believed had political implications and was potentially damaging to Hawick.

“It is reassuring that the commissioner has clarified the position regarding the right of councillors to appropriately challenge the local authority and express views on behalf of constituents.”

A council spokesperson said: “The council raised the alleged breach with the commissioner and notes his decision.”