The ghosts will be out at Traquair this Halloween so come along for a spooky experience - if you dare!

Ghostly Castle Tours of Traquair House, Innerleithen, will take place on October 27 and 28 and promise to be a spine-chilling experience, for on your tour through the house there may be some unexpected spooky surprises!

As the wind whistles through the walls you will meet some of the past inhabitants of this ancient home and learn about their stories living as Jacobites and Catholics in dangerous times.

Descend into the dungeons of the Tower of London to discover what life was like as an imprisoned Jacobite before relaxing in the comfort of the 18th century dining room for a glass of mulled wine.

Halloween suppers are available at the 1745 Cottage Restaurant pre and post tours which start at 7pm and 9pm.

The Halloween Family Fun Day on October 29 will be a great day out for all ages. This year there will be magic shows with Quantum Magic, creep crawly animal handling sessions, the famous Spooky Passage Experience as well as tarot readings, ghost stories in the woods, a witches and wizards workshop, scavenger hunts, ghost hunting in the maze, spooky face painting and traditional Halloween games.

Come dressed to kill for the Best Dressed Halloween Character competition. More information from www.traquair.co.uk.

Santa is coming to Harestanes, Jedburgh, this festive season with a brand new, exciting event for families.

Santa’s Harestanes Happening takes families on a magical Christmas adventure in the Scottish Borders. The event will take place Thursday to Sunday throughout December with a colourful, guided Christmas walk, a Santa’s Grotto experience and the chance to relax with hot drinks and lovely food as well as perusing the newly refurbished retail haven.

Santa’s Harestanes Happening, depicts an original Christmas tale where all of the odds are stacked against Santa as he carries out one of his regular test routes across the Scottish Borders.

The story opens: “Bilberry the elf is missing, the sleigh has broken down... Santa’s grounded at Harestanes! He urgently needs your help to fly back to Lapland in time for Christmas.”

Come and help Santa find his elf and the magic icicles that power his sleigh. Tickets £6.95 from www.eventbrite.co.uk.

If you can stomach a creepy cupcake or a gruesome muffin prepare for your Hallowe’en party by creating these recipes from Pyrex to celebrate National Baking Week.

They’re frighteningly tasty!

A video clip of a Hawick pub customer dropping and smashing his glass while making a bungled attempt to down a pint in one has become an internet sensation.

More than eight million people worldwide have tuned in to watch the booze-fuelled mishap, and more than 80,000 have left comments, most poking fun at his misfortune.

A regular at the Waverley Bar, identified as Colin Gallagher, was filmed by a pal on a mobile telephone while trying to finish off his pint in one go.

Unfortunately, his effort goes awry when the glass slips from his grasp, in the process pouring the contents over his face as it arcs into the air, then smashes on the floor.

For the next minute, he struggles to dry his eyes as hilarity breaks out all around the bar and staff go about clearing up the debris.

The video was uploaded to the popular LadBible social media site, which pays out £100 for every comic clip used, and, as of yesterday, it had notched up more than eight million views.

A spokesperson for the High Street bar said: “I wasn’t in the bar at the time, but it’s been a big talking point ever since among the customers.

“It seems to have put the pub on the map.”

The clip has prompted hundreds of reactions on social media sites, with many saying they’d watched Colin’s misadventure several times in a row.

Francine Mohan said: “It’s a step-by-step guide on how not to drink a pint.”

Maxine Davis responded: “I love the fact that the guy sitting next to him is oblivious to the fact that his mate is burning his eyes out and drowning in cheap lager.”

Andrew Crawford said: “I could literally watch this every day just to cheer myself up.”

Colin Irving added: “He had no control. His body literally overlooked his brain.”

Despite the absence of One For Arthur, last season’s Grand National winner, Kelso’s EDF-ER Steeplechase has attracted a high-quality entry of 12 horses.

The £22,500 steeplechase is currently scheduled to be the third of six races staged this Saturday, although course officials have indicated it’s possible that one or more races could be divided to create a seven or eight-race card.

The feature race of the day, the EDF-ER Steeplechase, was the intended to mark the reappearance of One For Arthur. Unfortunately, Lucinda Russell’s stable star has been sidelined by a minor tendon injury and will now rested until next season.

However, racegoers will still be treated to a quality renewal of the valuable staying race, with entries including the Paul Nicholls-trained pair As De Mee and Vicente, Sue Smith’s Wakanda and the popular Houblon des Obeaux, trained by Venetia Williams.

While Lucinda Russell is not represented in the big race, she could gain compensation with Big River in the Clifford & Martin Firth Memorial Novices’ Steeplechase. Already a three-time winner at Kelso, Big River carries the colours of Two Black Labs and the Borders lady behind the name is Deborah Thomson – one of the Two Golf Widows responsible for Grand National hero One For Arthur.

Possible opposition could come in the form of Modus – twice placed in the Festival Bumper at Cheltenham.

The first race on the programme, currently scheduled for 2.25pm, is the Ian Anderson Memorial Maiden Hurdle race which, having attracted 33 entries, is one of the races which could possibly divide.

One of the most fascinating entries is Cool Mix, trained by Iain Jardine, who is currently in Australia overseeing Nakeeta’s bid for glory in the Melbourne Cup.

Cool Mix was a cracking second in last season’s bumper at Ayr on Scottish National day, a race won by none other than Sprinter Sacre a few years ago.

Celebrating a name synonymous with steeplechasing in the Borders, the Sir Maxwell Harper Gow Memorial Handicap Hurdle is now in its fifth year. Dianne Sayer won this race last year with Cool Baranca and she bids to keep the prize in Cumbria with her veteran gelding Endeavor. Lucy Alexander has already been booked by her father Nick for the ride on Jet Master, a winner at Perth last month for his Kinneston connections.

World Horse Welfare will be the principle beneficiaries of the Bruce Farms Handicap Steeplechase, as the sponsors will be supporting the charity on-course.

Charlie Longsdon had a runner in last weekend’s American Grand National Hurdle and he has pencilled in Fly Home Harry, a close second recently at Fontwell. Maurice Barnes is represented by Flying Jack, who has been in decent form at Hexham during the summer and autumn.

The final race on the programme, the McConnell O’Hara Memorial Handicap Hurdle, is another that could divide, having attracted 33 entries. The race, which has attracted entries from Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales, is sponsored by a group of keen racing enthusiasts who have been attending Kelso regularly since 1996.

Donald McCain is a great supporter of Kelso and his stable conditional rider, Lorcan Murtagh, is likely to be aboard either Heaven Scent or Irish Hawke.

Rose Dobbin has her eye on the race as she has a total of five entries, Classical Sound, Final Fling, Just Chilly, Lady London and Professor Plumb.

The going for the meeting is currently good, good-to-soft in places, and looks sure to be well supported by trainers as well as racegoers.

In the event of race divisions, amended race times are due to be published at noon tomorrow (Friday).

Hawick hope low expectations and complacency help propel them to a shock BT Premiership victory over Border rivals and table-topping Melrose at the Greenyards on Saturday.

The Rose, meanwhile, know the Greens have been inching closer to that elusive first win but are determined only to focus on their own game – not even dwelling too much on their impressive success so far.

Saturday pits top versus bottom – the most dominant side in the Premiership verses the most dominated.

Melrose have scored a combined 368 points in their eight league matches this season, a whole 116 more points than the next best side, while Hawick have conceded a league worst 347 points, 101 more than the next worst defence.

It’s a recipe for a one-sided, clear-cut and decisive Melrose victory. That assumption and attitude is something Hawick captain Bruce McNeil hopes his side can utilise, potentially, to spring an improbable upset.

“Melrose are miles ahead of everyone and we are massive underdogs this weekend but we go there with no fear and that, hopefully, can help us potentially catch them off guard,” he said.

“Last weekend against Ayr, in the first half at least, we showed we can mix it with the best in this division. We played pretty well for 40 minutes and then fell away from what was giving us success in the second half.

“We gave them trouble and, if we can replicate that this weekend, and do it for 60 or 70 minutes, I can see us getting something from the game.

“They’re heavy favorites but we are going there with no fear, knowing the pressure is all on them.

“Those sorts of odds are what Hawick boys relish.”

Looking forward to a Borders derby, Melrose head coach Rob Chrystie knew Hawick had been resurgent but said Rose had a settled squad and would concentrate on their own game, not even thinking too much about bonus points.

“We’ll try and focus on ourselves and make sure we’re as good as we can be,” he said. “We’ll prepare for what we think Hawick might chuck at us but it’s very much about us – it doesn’t matter who we are playing.”

Chrystie added it had been of great help to Melrose to be consistent with their selection, and having a settled squad was a definite asset.

“Another thing working in our favour is that Melrose Storm are playing really well,” he added. “The boys who are stepping up are on the same page as us, because we all train together.”

Kelso farmer Michael Brewis is quad racing’s new 2017 Scottish champion.

The 34-year-old won the title by one point after the final round of the SACU Championship at Humbie, East Lothian, last weekend – having started the day with an eight-point deficit from series leader Paul Broomhead.

The three-race format saw the gap reduced to one point after two gruelling races in difficult, muddy conditions. But Brewis held his nerve and was leader of the pack as they set off from the start line for the third time.

The pressure became even greater when Brewis soon lost the lead to teenager Lorne Sinclair, leaving Broomhead bearing down on Brewis.

As spectators watched, the pair rode the race of their lives on the tricky track, with Broomhead on Brewis’ tail the whole way.

But Brewis held him off magnificently and crossed the chequered flag seconds ahead.

Another local quad racer, Robbie Wood (13), from Earlston, was also competing at Humbie in the youth section of the Scottish Championships and he won the 150cc 4 stroke geared event.

Two major players in the Peeblesshire area have joined forces to deliver sporting sessions to local youngsters.

Representatives of ClubSport Tweeddale and the Peeblesshire Youth Trust (PYT), working with Live Borders club development officer Lori Lee, have signed a two-year partnership agreement to deliver a programme of joint working until September 2019.

The partnership aims to establish sessions, through links with local clubs, to allow children supported by PYT to try new sports as part of their group activities.

Peeblesshire Youth Trust aims to empower local youngsters, aged 10-14, by providing support and encouragement to help them achieve their potential.

Through group activities and work with volunteer mentors, the aim is to increase confidence and promote participation and inclusion within the community.

Sarah Keen, programme manager of PYT said: “This support from ClubSport Tweeddale will increase the opportunities available to the children we engage with at PYT.

“It will open new doors for many young people to try sports for the first time and encourage them to participate in physical activities more often.

“This, in turn, can improve confidence, resilience and self-esteem, as well as demonstrating advantages for the health and wellbeing of young people.”

Funding, provided by ClubSport Tweeddale, will be used to bring local clubs together to offer activities, along with use of the gym and local swimming pool.

The first activities have already started, with horse riding lessons at Stable Life during the October holidays.

The next sessions include trampolining with local club PHD FUNdamentals and football in Romanno Bridge, while further sessions are planned in Peebles.

Live Borders’ Lori Lee added: “Working together allows PYT to establish a link with local sporting bodies and potentially open the doors of clubs to children who would not normally have had the opportunity to try the sports and activities onoffer.

“It is hoped that, by affording these opportunities, PYT participants would gain the confidence to continue within club sessions if they have found a new love of the sport.”

A long-established blacksmith’s business in Hawick has closed with the loss of nine jobs.

John Telfer, a blacksmith and metalwork company, carried out structural steelwork projects and provided metalwork, such as gates and railings, for homes and commercial buildings.

The announcement that the company, founded in 1872, is now in provisional liquidation has come as a surprise as expansion of its operations into the north of England was announced earlier this year.

At the time it was forging ahead with plans to move more into the construction sector after securing an invoice-factoring facility with the Bank of Scotland, with a company boss saying it offered a chance to “modernise and diversify the business during a period of turbulence in the steelwork industry”.

But it appears that despite having a bulging order book, cashflow problems have led to its closure.

No one at the company’s Mansfield Road base, its headquarters since 1991, was available for comment.

When William Telfer set up the business at the end of the 1800s, it was run from a small workshop in Crown Lane.

The firm continued through five generations from William to John Telfer, followed by another William and then the late Alan Telfer.

Speaking in March this year, its operations director, Gary Callachan, admitted the steelwork industry was “very turbulent”.

A recruitment day for staff needed at the new Aldi store about to open in Hawick is to be staged next week.

Building work on the £5m supermarket, in Commercial Road, is nearing completion, and it is expected to open early next year.

Now its bosses are on the lookout for staff, and a recuitment day has been organised for next Wednesday at Hawick Town Hall, from 10am to 5pm.

A spokesperson for the German-based chain said: “We are currently recruiting for a variety of roles at our Aldi store in Hawick.

“If you are looking for a fantastic salary, flexible contracts and the chance to be part of a close-knit team, come along to our recruitment event to meet our managers and find our more about the role. Don’t forget to bring your CV with full contact details.”

The majority of the external structural work at the former Wilton Mill site is now complete.

The store is one of eight new Aldi supermarkets being built in Scotland, bringing the total number nationwide up to 72.

The spokesperson added: “We are very excited about coming to Hawick. The Aldi brand is very popular with Borders customers already.

“There is no doubt that Aldi is growing in popularity across the UK, and Scotland is a significant success story in its own right.”

The new store will bring the number of supermarkets in Hawick up to four, alongside Morrisons, in Mart Street; Sainsbury’s, also in Commercial Road; and Lidl, at nearby Wilton Path.

Fancy a less-scary movie this Hallowe’en - one the whole family can enjoy?

Have a spookathon with our top film tips.

Afer a blank Saturday, following their brave effort in the Scottish Cup at Banks O’ Dee, Selkirk are back in action tomorrow with a home game in the Lowland League against East Kilbride.

It’s a tall assignment against last year’s champions – but, as a visiting East Stirlingshire side demonstrated recently, with a 5-0 victory, Billy Stark’s south Lanarkshire squad is not invincible.

Souters boss Ian Fergus, however, has a few selection worries, with injuries to Dale Baxter, Ricky Miller and Murray Christie, while Lewis Turkington is also unavailable.

The boss is drafting three teenagers into the playing squad – Jordan Keenan (16) and 17-year-olds David and Gavin Brown.

“We’re expecting an exceptionally difficult game in these circumstances, as it was hard enough with a full squad,” said Fergus.

“Hopefully, we can battle hard with a very young squad indeed.”

Selkirk’s rugby bosses are looking for ‘more of the same’ when they line up againt GHA at Philiphaugh tomorrow (Saturday).

The Souters may have lost last week to table-topping Edinburgh Accies, but they delivered a points-scoring performance with good play, especially from the backs.

Manager Tom Ramage said they had taken many good things from the visit to Raeburn Place, despite going down 29-15.

He pointed out they had scored three tries to the league leaders’ four and added: “I’ll be looking for more of the same, because we are scoring points – although Accies are a really good side.

“We are still looking to consodilate our position in the top four and I think it was a rogue result last Saturday, with GHA beating a weakened Gala side.

“So, hopefully, we will set the record right tomorrow with another win.”

Ramage said Selkirk’s back line was playing really well and their wide game was particularly good just now.

“We just have to be more mobile and cut down the penalty infringements,” he said.

“In the last two or three games, we have been giving too many penalties away, and it’s costing us points.

“I am looking forward to Saturday’s game – hopefully, we can keep Fortress Philiphaugh on the go.”

Selkirk were without a couple of players because of midweek training injuries but hope to be back near full strength, with Jock Renwick, Mikey Davies and Darren Clapperton back in the mix.

Selkirk got off to a great start against Accies when Clinton Wagman scored in the corner, after some excellent lead-up play from both forwards and backs.

Edinburgh were ahead 12-5 at half time but Selkirk began the second half as they had started the first, with Wagman again scoring in the corner after some great team play.

Arron McColm scored a late third try for the Souters, with ex-Philiphaugh player Clemont Lecour getting on the scoresheet for Accies.

A busy schedule of road-patching works is lined up for the A7 Edinburgh-Carlisle road over the coming weeks.

From this Sunday, October 29, to next Thursday, November 2, between 8pm and 6.30am, the A7 will be closed between Canonbie and Hawick. X95 buses will still be allowed through the works but they might face delays.

On the weekend of November 11 and 12, from 8am to 6pm, the A7 will be closed to allow works on both approaches to Skippers Bridge, south of Langholm, to be completed.

Border Buses will provide a shuttle bus from Langholm to Hawick and back again for the duration of the works.

A letter drop will be carried out before all works residents have been assured.

The closure of Meigle Printers in Tweedbank Industrial Estate last Friday has left its 15 staff looking for new jobs in the run-up to Christmas.

The Southern understands the company’s employees were asked to leave the premises after turning up for work as normal on October 20 as company boss Keith Johnston took the business into voluntary liquidation.

The company, which has printed leaflets, brochures and posters for local businesses and clubs for over 40 years, is now in the hands of administrators KPMG.

Meigle Printers managing director Mr Johnston and his wife Karen are listed as its sole directors.

Mr Johnston spoke this week of his “great sadness and regret” at the closure.

Scottish Borders Council convener and Leaderdale and Melrose councillor David Parker told the Southern: “I am extremely sorry to hear the sad news that this long-established and well-run Borders company has ceased trading.

“Meigle Printers was recognised Borders-wide and beyond for providing a very high quality of service, and the company worked hard to deliver first-class printing and graphics work.

“I know that Keith and the team took a great pride in their work and had an excellent relationship with many local clients, and there will be sadness in the Borders that the company has ceased trading.

“The print industry is one of the most challenging and difficult industries to be involved in now with the advent of electronic media and large-scale bulk printers.

“I have spoken with the economic development team at Scottish Borders Council, who will now liaise with the company to offer any support that the public sector can to try and find alternative employment for those affected by this announcement.”

Borders MP John Lamont said that he will be in touch with liquidator KPMG to ensure staff are being looked after as best they can.

He told us: “This is really disappointing news for the Borders and will be distressing for the 15 staff and their families, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

“Details are still unclear, but I will be contacting the liquidators to check enough is being done to support the staff through this difficult time.”

It appears the company was still trying hard to stay open in the days leading up to the closure, with orders continuing to be taken.

The Southern also understands a new member of staff was taken on just three weeks before the closure.

One of the company’s customers, who wishes to remain anonymous, and is liaising with the liquidators for the return of their artwork said: “I have heard from other customers like myself that their original artwork was also taken in by the printers just days before it closed, and now they have no access to get it back.

“The staff only had 15 minutes’ notice to leave the printers, so they weren’t to know, but I’m sure the managing director would have known for much longer, and it was their choice not to tell staff or customers and carry on employing new staff, and taking orders right up until closure.”

Hawick has been announced as the host of the 24th annual Borders Walking Festival.

Having last hosted the festival back in 2011, organisers are now calling on the town’s businesses for sponsorship for next year’s event.

It will take place during the first week of September, and three main routes are currently being established, all with varied distances and gradings, led by organiser French Wight.

Drew Dickson, of the Hawick Walking Festival Group, will lead routes closer to the town such as in Wilton Lodge Park, around Williestruther Loch and at Martin’s Bridge.

The group is now working towards providing night-time entertainment throughout that week, with a welcome reception to be held on the Sunday.

Festival group chairperson Marion Short said: “The group are currently approaching some businesses in the town seeking sponsorship for the event and thereafter restaurants, cafes, hotels, guest houses will be approached seeking advertising in the brochure.”

and also there may be a chance for companies to also sponsor a particular walk.

“However, even at this early stage if anyone wishes to contact me now for specific further information regarding advertising and sponsorship, I would be delighted to hear from them.”

She added: “The group at this stage fully recognise the importance of this event being in Hawick therefore providing a boost to local economy and attracting tourists from not just surrounding Scottish and English counties but more nationally, which hopefully will in turn provide revenue for the town through accommodation, cafes/restaurants and tourist shops.

Details of all the walks, once they are finalised, with all other details of the event will be posted on the website at www.borderswalking.com

Peebles held the last event.

A waiter was found to be in possession of cocaine while standing outside a Galashiels nightclub, a court heard.

Police spotted Karis Hislop acting suspiciously at a fire exit at the Indigo Rooms in the early hours of the morning.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that when they approached the 19-year-old, he dropped a bag of white powder to the floor.

It was found to contain one gramme of cocaine, worth between £40 and £100.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client had been on a night out when he had been offered the class-A drug.

He stressed that Hislop had never taken it before.

Sheriff Peter Paterson imposed a fine of £200.

A man has been fined £200 at Selkirk Sheriff Court for assaulting a fellow bus passenger.

Grant Pindell, 38, of Allars Bank, Hawick, pleaded guilty to punching the man to his head to his injury on a bus at Galashiels transport interchange on Monday, May 1.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the victim was sitting on the bus when, without warning, he was punched in the face, leaving him with a cut lip.

He added that Pindell ran away after carrying out that assault.

When the police caught up with him, he said his assault was a stupid mistake and he should not have done it.

He explained that the man was said to have previously goaded his partner, and she had pointed him out on the bus, prompting him to hit out.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said it was a vigilante-type offence and his client now accepted that it had been wrong.

The lord-lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale, Richard Scott, the Duke of Buccleuch, presented Brian Evans with his British Empire Medal at Scottish Borders Council’s headquarters at Newtown last week.

Mr Evans received the award for his community, voluntary and local service, particularly for the work he has done for Citizens Advice, both locally and nationally in his role as treasurer, and the Roxburgh Landward Benevolent Trust, which he joined as treasurer and later became joint honorary secretary and treasurer of.

The Lord-Lieutenant said: “Mr Evans is a highly worthy recipient of the British Empire Medal.

“Not only has he achieved significant financial, legal and operational benefits for both the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Roxburgh Landward Benevolent Trust, his reputation as a calm, conscientious and determined professional has been hugely appreciated.

“His unstinting commitment to the roles he undertakes clearly goes above and beyond what might be expected of him, and the esteem in which he is held is transparently evident as are the results he has been able to achieve.

“I have no doubt that he is an equally-respected member of the St Boswells Parish and I congratulate him on his worthy achievement.”

The owner of a Galashiels-based printing company spoke this week of his “great sadness and regret” over the closure of his business, with 15 people losing their jobs.

Workers turned up as normal to Meigle Colour Printers in Tweedbank last Friday and were asked to leave as the company had been taken into voluntary administration.

Managing director and owner Keith Johnston told the Southern yesterday that it was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do, citing the “brutal” print market and a forced relocation last year for the difficult decision.

He said: “I have been a part of that company for more than 40 years, as apprentice, printer, and owner.

“Meigle Printers was a long-established company, and it has been going strong since the 1960s, but right now, the print market is absolutely brutal.

“The commercial side of it is seriously cut-throat, and I have really just had enough.

“I had to make the decision for me and my family.”

Mr Johnston added: “We moved the factory twice in the last few years.

“The first time it was fine, because it was to expand the business, but the last one last year was a forced move.

“When you have large printing machines such as ours, it becomes a very expensive thing to do, and so it proved in this case.

“I put my heart and soul into this company, and it is with great sadness and regret that we have had to close.”

● Reaction from local councillor and MP – page 5