COMMUNITY councillors in Melrose were this week told of the methods used to help keep the abbey town looking blooming beautiful.

Rabbits were shot during the night and their burrows gassed during a planned cull.

But, with the creatures spotted returning in numbers, another is planned.

Melrose and District Community Council this week heard a total of £880 - the equivalent of five nights “work” - has been donated towards the cost of another bunny blitz - including £450 from Melrose in Bloom, which helped the town win Gold in the Britain in Bloom awards last year.

Community councillors heard the cull was necessary as rabbits had been spotted eating the town’s prized flower beds.

Val Millar, Vice-Chair of Melrose Community Council, said: “It’s nothing like what we had last year, there is a definite improvement. But it still needs to be dealt with.”