HUNDREDS of Tweedbank residents have been left unconnected after vandals targeted phone lines in the village.

Between midnight and 2am on Wednesday, a manhole cover was tampered with near Galafoot Bridge and cabling was damaged, taking down more than 800 telephone and broadband lines in the village.

Inspector Tony Hodges said: "This is a mindless attack on the community, leaving many people without essential phone lines and internet services. 

"We are keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the Kingsknowes Bridge and Tweedbank areas in the early hours of Wednesday, July 26 and may have seen or heard anything suspicious."

Anyone with information should call Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident 745 of July 26, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.