COMMUNITY efforts to rebuild stables near Innerleithen have raised more than £1,000 in just eight days.

The volunteer-run Haughhead Stables outside Innerleithen were targeted last week by firestarters, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Three buildings were completely destroyed, with equipment and hay being lost in the blaze.

But locals have rallied round the cause, raising £1,030 from 38 individual donors.

The GoFundMe campaign has also been shared nearly 250 times on social media.

Haughhead yard manager Iain Weir said: “As well as individual donations, we have also had a huge amount of support from local farmers, who have agreed to look after our hay and other materials.

“We have also had support from builders who are willing to help us build a new barn for storing the hay.

“We’re really touched by the support we’ve received from the community.

"It’s opened our eyes to just how much people appreciate us, and the work we do at Haughhead Stables."

Despite the devastation caused last week, Mr Weir has assured all customers that it will remain ‘business as usual’ during the Common Riding seasons.

After the Beltane, he expects that business will quieten down, and they will look towards demolishing and rebuilding the farm’s two field shelters.

Iain once again issued a plea for anyone who knows anything to report it to police.

He added: “Someone, somewhere knows who it was, or will at least have strong suspicions.

“We can understand the reluctance to inform the authorities, but all it would have taken would have been for the wind to blow in the opposite direction for lives to have been lost.”

Investigating officers are still hunting for the gang who torched the stables.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Our enquiries are still ongoing.”