PEST control officers have been called to the region’s schools on no fewer than 45 occasions so far this year.

Thirteen of the visits were in response to reports of mice infestations at the primary schools of Earlston (twice), Wilton, Reston, Yetholm, Glenndinning, Newlands, Channelkirk, Broughton,Wilton and Stirches and also at Galashiels Academy and Jedburgh Grammar.

Wasp infestations were dealt with at Denholm, St Margaret’s RC (Galashiels), Langlee, Greenlaw, Wilton, Hawick High and Galashiels Academy.

The officers were also called to eradicate ants at Tweedbank, Burnfoot, Sprouston, Earlston, Balmoral, Chirnside and Langlee primaries.

Moles were removed from the grounds of Sprouston (twice), Broomlands, Lauder and Reston.

There was only one report of a rat – discovered in March in a cupboard of the portacabin at Heriot Primary.