TRAVELLERS are being put off using public transport at the Galashiels Interchange due to anti-social behaviour among drunken youths, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Since the facility opened two years ago to accommodate the Borders Railway, youngsters often under the influence of alcohol have been congregating and causing trouble for staff and passengers.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser made the comments as 18-year-old Connor Beattie of Ballantyne Street, Innerleithen, pleaded guilty to two offences at the Transport Interchange on Friday, May 26.

He admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing, challenging others to fight and using abusive and sexually offensive remarks, as well as struggling violently with five police officers.

Mr Fraser described how the first offender turned up at the Interchange around 5pm "extremely intoxicated."

He said Beattie was challenging other members of the public to fight and made a crude comment to a 15 year old girl.

Mr Fraser continued: "He claimed he had been stabbed but what had happened was he had fallen into a bush and scratched his back."

The fiscal said he made another rude comment to another female and then began shouting and swearing at police before ending up in a violent struggle with five officers.

Mr Fraser concluded: "There is a real issue of young people gathering at the Interchange and putting people off using public transport."

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick accepted his client's behaviour was "idiotic" while under the influence of alcohol.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre deferred sentence until October 9 for the production of background reports.