RIOT police were called in to the Melrose Sevens this year, it has emerged.

And the specialist officers are credited with ensuring this year’s event passed off peacefully.

At this month’s meeting of Melrose and District Community Council, police revealed that there were no incidents reported in the ground during the event, which attracts a crowd of up to 10,000 revellers to the quiet Borders town each year.

Only one person was ejected from the after match party in the marquee and, with extra officers on hand from Edinburgh, “minor disorder” in the town centre - which included children squaring up to each other - was quickly quashed.

However, a photograph posted on the Border Telegraph’s Facebook page seemed to suggest a riot van was damaged during the Melrose Sevens weekend - after its flashing lights were reportedly knocked off after appearing to hit the low ceiling while driving in the underground car park at Tesco in neighbouring Galashiels.

Meanwhile, community councillors warned that emergency vehicles may have difficulty responding to calls in Rushbank Road in Newstead because of all the parked cars outside the local health board’s headquarters.

However, Provost William Windram said that in the event of a blaze, the fire engine would knock cars out of the way if lives were in danger.