SELKIRK shone at the weekend as the town celebrated the start of the festive season with its annual Christmas light switch on.

A packed programme of events on Saturday began with a festive farmers' market and an elf hunt, with children hunting for Santa’s helpers in shop windows around town.

Elsewhere Selkirk Junior Football Club kicked off the celebrations with a festive football tournament in Bog Park, which raised £100.60 for the illuminations.

Crowds gathered in the town centre in the evening to welcome Santa to the town and to watch the lights being switched on.

On hand to entertain the crowds were the town’s Musical Theatre Group, Selkirk Silver Band, Selkirk Junior Country Dancers and the Riddell Fiddles.

The official opening of the Selkirk Streetscape Scheme and the renovated Sir Walter Scott Courthouse also took place, marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the Courthouse.

Logan Fairbairn, Rowland’s Year of the Young Person winner, carried out the ribbon cutting duties immediately prior to the Christmas lights switch on.

Logan said: “I have always wanted to be involved in the Christmas lights switch-on so I am thrilled to take part this year and help open the new look town centre and Courthouse.”

The £431,000 Courthouse restoration was the centrepiece of the Selkirk Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme and worked to safeguard the building where Sir Walter Scott dispensed justice in the early 19th century for future generations.

Works on the building were extended with additional funding from Selkirk Common Good and Scottish Borders Council and included repairs to the cockerel weather vane, refurbishment of the clock faces and extensive repairs to its defective stonework.

The Courthouse works were co-ordinated alongside the £450,000 Selkirk Streetscape Scheme, which has resulted in various improvements to the town centre including safer access for bus passengers, better seating, improved pedestrian crossings, better road surfacing for drivers and provision for Market Place to host events and markets.

The plans for the streetscape scheme involved consultation with the Selkirk Stakeholder Group which included 15 different organisations from the town.

In a joint statement, Selkirkshire Councillors Gordon Edgar, Caroline Penman and Elaine Thornton-Nicol, said: “We are delighted both of these projects have now concluded and as we head into a bright future for Selkirk, it was fantastic to have one of our young people take part in the official opening.

“The works to the Courthouse will ensure the long-term future of the building, which is iconic to Selkirk and the town’s proud links to Sir Walter Scott. It also marks the final works of Selkirk CARS, which has invested over £1million in the town centre and revitalised a number of properties.

“The Selkirk Streetscape Scheme has led to a wide variety of improved facilities in Market Place for local people, which are already helping to attract more visitors to the Royal Burgh.

“Thanks are due to all who contributed to both projects and to the local businesses and residents for their patience while both schemes were completed.”