POLICE are still trying to track down the thoughtless thug who spray-painted Selkirk War Memorial just hours before a service was due to take place.

Hundreds gathered at Ettrick Terrace and The Valley to witness the annual Common Riding Act of Remembrance on Friday at 5.30am.

The moving ceremony allows ex servicemen and women from the town to pay their respects to the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice.

But just hours before the medal-clad veterans arrived at the Memorial, Common Riding marshals had been forced to cover up the vandalised plaques, which feature the names of the 94 servicemen who didn't come home, with black boot polish.

A spokesman for the Selkirk Ex-Soldiers Association said: "This would be a sickening act at any time but in the hours leading up to an important commemoration ceremony is almost unthinkable.

"This has caused a lot of upset to an awful lot of people and we hope that whoever is responsible will be fittingly punished."

Similar white spray-paint graffiti, which referred to drug dealing on the War Memorial, was also found at other landmarks around Selkirk on Common Riding morning.

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar said: "It is a terrible and thoughtless act and we hope the police will track down whoever is responsible.

"As well as the War Memorial, there was graffiti on walls at the Post Office and at the Kirk Wynd as well as other locations in the town."

Investigating officers appealed for information, through the Border Telegraph, during Friday's Common Riding.

And it is understood they are now following a positive line of enquiry.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.

A spokesman said: "We are investigating after graffiti was discovered on the town's War Memorial and other locations in the town on Friday, June 15.

"Inquiries to identify those responsible are ongoing and anyone with information is requested to call the police on 101 quoting incident 387 on June 15."