A CROWDFUNDING appeal has been launched to pay for one of the first public firework displays in Galashiels for years.

And it has started with a bang!

The event, which is being organised by third year events promotion students at Heriot-Watt University as part of a class project, is being staged in the town's Public Park, off Tweed Road, on Thursday, November 5 - Guy Fawkes Night.

And the local community, who have been left in the dark since many of the area's official displays were stopped amid concerns over rising costs, are rallying round in support.

Within hours of being launched, the online appeal, which hopes to top £2000, had already raised more than £300. And organisers, who also hope to donate cash to the Borders Children's Charity, insist the show will go on regardless.

As well as the fireworks, the evening, billed as Gala Fawkes Night, will also include food and craft stalls, with students from the famous textile school showcasing some of their work.

Local nightclub Warehouse has donated a DJ for the occasion and singer Dave MacMillan is also set to perform.

It is hoped the fundraiser will bring the students at the university's Netherdale campus and the people of Galashiels closer together.

The fun begins at 5.30pm on Thursday with the fireworks set to go off around 7.15pm. Donations are also being taken at the gate.

Abbie Keenan, one of the organisers, told the Border Telegraph: "It all began in our Events Promotion class where our brief was to plan and run an event before December of this year. So my group decided on the idea of doing a firework night in Galashiels. It was an event that the students are particularly interested in but we had no idea how much community support we would have too!

"We never realised that Galashiels had gone so long without a night so it made us more keen to go ahead with the idea.

"We wanted to try and connect the locals of Galashiels with the students that flood the town every year. Students craft work such as scarves, hats, cards and gifts will be sold on the night as well as student run sweetie tuck shop and candy floss. We want to let the community know what it is we do at the university. We've got local food vendors catering the night such as crepes, hog roast and risotto.

"Unfortunately, the grant we applied for to fund the fireworks was declined with a week to go until the event. Now we need to fund the fireworks ourselves. However, we are powering on and the event is going ahead regardless.

"Luckily, the local people and businesses of Galashiels have been incredible by donating money to help fund the night. We've set up a JustGiving page which allows people to donate online.

"We never imagined how much work it would be to run the Gala Fawkes night, but we are all elated with the support we've received already. Hopefully the night will be enjoyed by everyone attending."

Local residents have warmly welcomed the public firework display.

Commenting on the students' page on social-networking site Facebook, where more than 1500 people have expressed an interest in going, Laura Lauder said: "We will be attending, it'll be great to have a firework display in Gala again. I hope everyone gets behind this to help make it a great success."

To donate, log on to the following website: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/gala-fawkes

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