PLANS have been unveiled for Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue to move from its home in Selkirk to Melrose.

The voluntary rescue service has made a joint bid with charity St John Scotland to convert the former fire station in Melrose into a base and training centre.

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue was originally based in Galashiels, but has been at the Argus Centre in Selkirk for the past 25 years.

In recent years it has been searching for larger premises to cater for training and the storage of equipment and vehicles.

Dave Wright from Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue told us: "We are looking at a number of options with Melrose Fire Station being one of them.

"We set up a working group some time ago to look at possibilities for a new base.

"Everything is at an early stage just now but we hope to progress the plans."

The former fire station, which overlooks the Greenyards, was put up for sale by Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service Board after the station closed in 2007.

Several organisations have been linked with the High Street building since its closure, including Melrose Rugby Club and the Co-op.

But it has remained empty for the past eight years.

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue has around 40 volunteers who provide assistance across the Scottish Borders and Lothians to the emergency services.

The team rely entirely on donations to provide the additional support to police and ambulance.

And much of the funding for any conversion of the former fire station in Melrose would come from St John of Scotland.

Since 1997 the charity has been helping mountain rescue teams across Scotland - which includes around £3.5 million on 13 new bases.

Angus Loudon, executive director of St John Scotland, told us: "The Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue is seeking to establish a new base that meets the needs of the team in terms of location and facilities.

"A potentially suitable site has been identified, and preliminary work is being carried out before any decision is made to ensure that it meets all the necessary criteria for the team to operate from.

"St John Scotland are collaborating with the Tweed Valley team over this project.

"St John Scotland has a long history of supporting mountain rescue throughout Scotland through the provision of bases and vehicles, and this project is a further example of this continued support."

A full planning application for converting the former fire station will be considered by Scottish Borders Council over the coming weeks.