FORESTRY bosses are closing a popular mountain bike trail in the Borders in a further bid to combat a fast-spreading tree disease.

Phytophthora Ramorum has already been found in the Tweed Valley.

And now larch trees at Newcastleton have also been identified as having the deadly disease.

Infection control measures will be in place and urgent felling will begin next week.

Katie Jarvis, recreation manager for Forest Enterprise Scotland told us: "Trees affected by P Ramorum are very unlikely to survive and will die over the coming months or years.

"We need to remove the trees and those surrounding them to try and limit the disease spreading quickly.

“I expect the 7Stanes red cross country route to be closed for around two months whilst felling is in operation but I am glad to say the blue route is unaffected.

“The red route will be closed for safety reasons due to all the felling taking place and we will ensure there is plenty of signage to make that clear.

"I would urge all visitors to take heed of the signs as a felling site is not a safe place for the public to be.”

Ramorum was first discovered in Scotland over a decade ago and spread quickly around the west coast.

It causes extensive damage to larch trees and other plants.

Although relatively few new outbreaks were identified between 2014 and 2017, the disease was discovered in forests around Innerleithen during the summer.

Biosecurity measures have been in place around Innerleithen and Traquair as well as a programme of felling.

Forest Enterprise Scotland's Keep it Clean campaign asks bikers, walkers and horse riders to clean their bikes, gear, dogs’ paws and horses’ hooves before they enter a forest.

Katie added: "We should be prepared for more cases of P Ramorum to occur in the Borders.

“It is a tree disease that has been here for a few years and is expected to continue spreading.

"At the moment, our best defence is to continue felling to slow the rate of its spread. We will be replanting the felled areas in time but using different species of tree.”

Only the red route at Newcastleton will be closed to the public during the felling.

Felling at Traquair forest is also ongoing with trail diversions to the red cross-country route in place - the downhill trails at Traquair are not affected.