CHRISTMAS has come early to Selkirk.

And community leaders fear they will become a laughing stock.

Scottish Borders Council erected the town's festive fir in the Market Square yesterday (Tuesday) - 45 days before December 25 and just five days after Bonfire Night.

Edith Scott, who is a former chair of the town's Traders Association, blasted: "We're going to be the laughing stock of the Borders - if not Scotland - for having a tree up at the start of November."

The town's members on Scottish Borders Council - Gordon Edgar, Michelle Ballantyne and Vicky Davidson - admitted the decision had taken them by surprise.

Councillor Ballantyne said: "We have only found out about this ourselves."

It remains unclear if the accompanying lights on the Selkirk Christmas tree will be switched on from this week.

The local authority, who supply a total of 13 trees to communities across the region, will also erect the Hawick Christmas fir this week.

And several other towns will get their festive delivery throughout next week.

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “The timing of the erection of the Christmas tree in Selkirk, and other communities in the Borders, is dependent on a number of factors.

"These include availability from the supplier, time to allow the tree to be dressed with lights and discussions with the community who are often organising a local festive event. ”

Although Selkirk has become one of the first towns in Scotland to have a Christmas tree, it could be one of the last to have other festive illuminations as a row is rumbling on about power supplies to its lights.

RJ McLeod, who are carrying out the flood defence contract in the town, agreed last month to test and repair Selkirk's displays.

And they are due to be returned from the East Kilbride depot over the coming days.

Mrs Scot added: "RJ McLeod were aghast that Selkirk could be in darkness this Christmas and they kindly offered to take away our lights and sort them out.

"There is no illuminations group in Selkirk now - just a few of us taking an interest and trying to sort out the mess.

"I have a quotation for connecting the lights and I'm awaiting another. Hopefully this can all be done in time."

The local authority fitted five new regulation power points around Selkirk town centre during 2014 at a cost of £7,000.

But a row over quotations led to SBC refusing to stump up cash for the points to be connected to a power supply.

And last year's lights had to run from original electrical supplies.

The row over connecting the points has continued throughout this year - with time running out.

Local councillor Vicky Davidson said: "There may be grants we can tap into but we are going to have to act quickly.

"For some reason this has been allowed to rumble on for another year. We need to get this fixed."

The Scottish Borders Council spokesperson added: “The council is awaiting competitive quotations for installing energy points specifically to supply power for festive lighting in the town.

“Officers will continue to discuss with representatives of the community council with the aim of resolving the matter.”