THE best blooming towns and villages in the Scottish Borders have been recognised at Scottish Borders Council’s annual Floral Gateway Awards.

This year’s winners and runners-up were celebrated at a ceremony at Tweed Horizons, Newtown St Boswells, on Monday 14 September.

The results were: Champion of Champions – Melrose; Town – 1, Peebles; 2, Galashiels;  Large Village – 1, Coldstream; 2, Newtown St Boswells; 3, Lauder;  Small Village – 1, Coldingham; 2, Greenlaw; 3, Ancrum; Wee Village – 1, Westruther; 2, Birgham; 3, Whitsome.

Councillor David Paterson, SBC’s Executive Member for Environmental Services, said: “As ever, the quality of the entries into our Floral Gateway Awards was of the highest standard, and the judges had a very difficult time picking the winners.

“Communities across the Scottish Borders do a fantastic job in making their town or village bright and beautiful for local people and visitors to enjoy, and the Floral Gateway Awards are an appropriate way for us to recognise the efforts of the many volunteers involved.”

Judging took place in late July/early August and took into account three key areas - floral presentation, cleanliness and community involvement.

New Community Awards were also presented at the awards ceremony. Melrose was awarded the Clean and Tidy title in recognition of work to tackle environmental littering and Bowden scooped the Border Biodiversity title, for the community’s efforts in increasing biodiversity in and around the village.

Newtown St Boswells was also given a Quality of Life Award, recognising the significant impact that community involvement has made to support, promote and enhance the quality of life in the village. Lauder was given a Welcome Award as a new entrant to the competition.