A CARNIVAL atmosphere was building in Galashiels this week.

Eleven-year-old Nathan Yule and Keira Vicentini, aged ten, were unveiled as the 2015 Langlee Lad and Lass on Friday.

They will now lead this year’s Langlee Carnival which will be held at the Community Centre on Saturday, September 12.

Nathan’s mum Charley told the Border Telegraph: “He’s dead proud, he didn’t think he was going to get picked. And it was his birthday when he got picked so it was a double celebration.” And she added: “His granddad and I, who bring him up, are dead proud of him. I can’t wait for the Carnival to come!” Keira will know exactly what to expect as her sister, Luciana, was Langlee Lass five years ago.

And, although two brothers have been Langlee Lad before, this is the first time two sisters have held the leading role.

Looking forward to the festivities, Keira’s mum Janet said: “She’s rather excited, we’re all excited - everybody’s over the moon.” When asked what the Carnival means to Langlee, she added: “It’s a community event that brings everyone together and it’s a really nice day.” The primary six pupils were chosen at random by the Braw Lad and Lass, Cameron Pate and Abbie Frankland, during their visit to Langlee Primary School last week.

And organisers, who only revived the festivities in 2006, revealed it will be like Gala Day all over again.

Congratulating the Principals on their appointment, Kirsty Mcpherson, joint-chair of Langlee Carnival, said: “The Braw Lad and Lass pick their names out of a hat. It’s the fairest way to do it and the kids seem quite impressed that they are being picked by the Braw Lad and Lass.

“This is our ninth year and we have just gone from strength to strength. Fortunately, we’ve only had one bad year weather-wise. It used to be held at the school but that year it was too muddy so we decided on the morning that we were going to hold it at the community centre and it’s been there ever since.

“We get upwards of 800 people through the gates and it’s great. Everything’s cheap and paid for using a token system. There’s food, there’s a band, there’s pipers, Irish dancers - I think there’s something for everybody.” Langlee Carnival will be held at the Community Centre in Langlee on Saturday, September 12, from 11am to 4pm.

It gets underway with a fancy dress competition at the school and parade along Marigold Drive.

And, as well as all the usual fun and games, including quad bikes and hamster balls, it has been announced that this year’s event will include the first bouncy disco in Scotland.

Kirsty said: “It’s such a community event that people just turn out in their droves.

“Our fancy dress could always do with some more participants because the one’s that do it put in so much effort, and normally we have the Braw Lad and Lass or their Attendants judging that.

“We hold that at the school and then parade along to the community centre. Last year a vintage car transported the Lad and Lass. It’s just like Gala Day all over again.”