A RECENTLY launched tartan from Selkirk has made an appearance this week in the House of Commons.

The local fundraising branch of Cancer Research UK, led by Elaine Monro, commissioned the colourful tartan from Lochcarron of Scotland.

And over the past month two runs of 300 scarves have all sold out.

This week the team behind the project were invited to London to promote the scarf at Westminster as well as meet with colleagues at Cancer Research’s HQ.

Speaking at Business Questions, local MP John Lamont paid tribute to the efforts of the Selkirk Committee in coming up with the idea.

Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom MP described the scarf as “wonderful", before praising the work of the Selkirk Committee and pulling on a scarf in the chamber while answering questions from MPs.

Mr Lamont said: “Given the amount of hard work Elaine and the team in Selkirk have put in, I was very pleased to be able to congratulate them publicly in the House of Commons while they were down.

“The Leader of the House was certainly impressed with the scarf and I hope the exposure it has received while in Westminster will mean it is taken on as a national fundraiser by Cancer Research UK.

“It’s a great reflection on the Borders to have this scarf produced locally and I’m sure that it will continue to be hugely popular and difficult to get hold of!”

The first run of 300 scarves sold out within six days of the colourful launch at Lochcarron.

And a second batch of 300 went almost as quickly.

Speaking in the Chamber, Andrea Leadsom said: “By sheer coincidence, this morning I decided to wear a pink jacket and when my honourable friend presented me with one of these wonderful scarves which Elaine and her colleagues have produced for Cancer Research, I was absolutely delighted to find that the chill in this chamber could be offset by something warm from Scotland.

“And I’m absolutely delighted with the contribution of all of those volunteers to cancer research, having had family members suffer from this terrible disease myself.

"I think we should all celebrate the excellent work of volunteers."

Elaine was joined on the trip to London by fellow Selkirk Cancer Research branch member May Smail as well as Keith Russell and Alan Duncan from Lochcarron.

Elaine said: “My fellow committee members and staff at CRUK, along with Lochcarron of Scotland have all been amazing during this project. It has been a steep learning curve as no one has ever done anything like this before.

“I am absolutely delighted with the way people have reacted to this project and it is great that the scarf is selling so quickly.

“l could never have dreamt that when l sat down for that first meeting that l would be in Westminster promoting the scarf and then heading to Cancer Research headquarters to hopefully discuss them taking the tartan on as a fundraiser which will hopefully raise not only much needed funds but increasing the profile of Cancer Research UK.”