CORNMILL Court's longest serving tenant cut the cake to celebrate the sheltered housing complex's 30th anniversary.

Eighty-six-year-old Archie Cook has lived at the Trust Housing Association property in St John Street, Galashiels, for 15 years.

He revealed he first cut the cake at Cornmill's 25th anniversary celebrations and hoped to be back for the 35th anniversary celebrations in 2017.

Residents organised a day long party to mark the latest milestone on Wednesday last week. Julie Pearson, supported housing co-ordinator at Cornmill Court, said: "We felt it was important to mark the milestone." And she added: "Everybody seems to have enjoyed themselves."

Meanwhile, the oldest female tenant, Nettie Hardie, was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Trust board member Iain Crawford ahead of her 92nd birthday later this month.

She revealed she has witnessed a number of changes in Galashiels over the past 30 years but insisted the community spirit remained.

Nettie, who was born in Halliburton, said: "I hardly know Galashiels now with all this new road system. And I'm frightened to go up Channel Street in case I find another shop closed."

But she added: "I was speaking to a Polish lad who drives a taxi here and I was quite impressed when he told me his wife was here and she's very happy in Galashiels because the people are so friendly."