GALASHIELS is set to become the first town in the Borders to receive an official top-up tap.

Scottish Water has already installed the water stations in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dumfries, Dunfermline, Ayr, Oban and Fort William as part of its Your Water, Your Life initiative.

As well as providing healthy drinking water, the refill taps will also reduce the number of plastic bottles which are currently in circulation.

Scottish Water now want to install the top-up tap in Market Place - adjacent to the recently unveiled Coulter's Candy statue.

The nationwide initiative has been welcomed by Roseanna Cunningham MSP, cabinet secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform.

She said: "This is a fantastic campaign which fits in with our work to reduce Scotland’s dependence on single use plastic and is raising awareness of the health benefits of drinking more tap water, which is excellent in quality and value.

“We would encourage people to make the switch to reusable bottles if they can as it will help protect the environment and can save money.

"This campaign also builds on our commitments to tackle our throwaway culture as we are the first part of the UK to commit to a deposit return scheme.”

Scottish Borders Council will consider the planning application for the top-up tap over the coming weeks.