LOVE Gala? Do you fancy yourself as a budding photographer? If so, the Border Telegraph might have just the thing for you.

In conjunction with Energise Galashiels, we are running a competition to see who can submit a picture of an I Love Gala bag in the most unique, unusual or far-off location.

“We’d love to see photographs of your I love Gala bags at the top of the Eiffel tower, by the pyramids in Egypt or even further afield. But you don’t have to travel around the world to win.” said Helen Calder from Energise Galashiels. “The winning image could be a bag on top of the Eildons, hanging off a chimney pot, or just an unusual entry that catches the judges eye.” The aim of the campaign is to show Galashiels in a positive light, to promote the town to visitors ahead of the arrival of the Borders railway and to encourage Galaleans to shop locally. Traders across the town have so far responded enthusiastically to the initiative.

Helen said: “We contacted local traders and asked them if they wanted to stock the I Love Gala bags, and the response has been fantastic, on the whole. The traders we have spoken to are fully on board with any move that increases footfall in the town, so they support what we are trying to do.

“We want to promote Gala in the way it should be promoted. It is a beautiful town.” The winning picture (chosen by the 'I Love Gala’ team) will receive a Border Reiver statue donated by Ballantyne of Walkerburn, so get creative! Pictures can be posted directly to the I Love Gala Facebook page, the Border Telegraph’s Facebook page, or posted in to us at Border Telegraph, 32 Market Street, Galashiels TD1 3AA. Closing deadline for entries is August 17.