THE Selkirkshire village of Midlem recorded the region’s highest turnout at the recent Scottish Independence Referendum.

Figures posted this week by Scottish Borders Council reveal that 139 of the 145 registered electorate, not including postal voters, cast their votes in the village hall polling station – a staggering turnout of 95.9%.

In terms of participation, it was closely followed by two neighbouring villages – Ashkirk where 240 of the 252 electorate (95.2%) voted on the day and in Bowden (256 of the 270 or 94.5%).

The region-wide turnout of voters on September 18 was 86.5% - boosted up to 87.4% when the 14,699 postal votes were taken into account.

Other rural polling stations where the turnout exceeded 90% included Carlops, West Linton, Eddleston, Stobo, Manor, Traquair, Cardrona, Caddonfoot, Stow, Westruther, St Boswells, Crailing, Morebattle, Hownam, Yarrow, Ettrickbridge, Oxnam, Oxton, Blainslie and Darnick.

The 90% level was also exceeded at all five polling stations at Priorsford PS in Peebles, at both Melrose stations, at both Innerleithen stations and in one of the ballot boxes at Selkirk’s Victoria Hall.

In Galashiels, the highest turnout of 87.3% was recorded at Glendinning Terrace, followed by 86.5% at St Peter’s. The lowest turnout in the town – and indeed the entire region – was the 73% recorded at one of the Focus Centre stations.