EXPECT a few knocks at the door over the coming weeks as the fight for the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk seat heats up.

With the exception of Labour, all of the other major parties have announced their candidates aiming for Westminster on December 12.

Persistent John Lamont finally got over the winning line for the Conservatives in 2017 after failing to gain enough votes at the previous three elections.

Pitching the contest as a two-horse race during his launch last week, Mr Lamont believes voters have a straight choice between himself or former SNP MP Calum Kerr.

But, with a recent surge in popularity with their anti-Brexit stance the Lib-Dems will be looking to make inroads in this once stronghold.

And a further possible fly in the ointment for either of the expected front-runners comes in the shape of Brexit Party candidate Michael Banks.

In St Boswells last week Mr Lamont launched his re-election campaign with a pledge to get Brexit sorted and to oppose what he describes as 'constitutional division being promised by Nicola Sturgeon'.

He said: “I can sense that people in the Borders are scunnered with politics at the moment and I do not blame them.

"But in the Borders it is going to be a close contest between me and the SNP.

"Nicola Sturgeon has made it crystal clear that her number one priority from this election is another independence referendum.

“The majority of people in the Borders, no matter how they voted in the EU Referendum, just want Brexit sorted and for the country to move on.

"The last thing the Borders needs and wants is to go back to yet another divisive referendum."

Mr Lamont's share of the vote has increased steadily in the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency at all of the previous four General Elections.

And the the 18 percent swing he enjoyed in 2017 allowed him to take the seat from the SNP's Calum Kerr.

Amidst much fanfare at last week's launch in Galashiels, Mr Kerr came out fighting in his bid for a return to Westminster.

He claimed that the region had “lost its voice in the House of Commons” over the past two years.

Mr Kerr said: "It is becoming clearer by the day that, under their proposed hard Brexit, the Tories will sell out Scotland’s Health Service and food standards in their desperation to strike a US trade deal with Donald Trump.

"Unlike my Tory counterpart, who has rolled over and repeatedly voted against the wishes of the majority of Borderers, I won’t stand idly by and let that happen.

“I loved every second of representing this constituency and I recognise that to do so is an honour, not a right.

"Any MP must earn and sustain the trust of the area’s constituents.

"In the two years that I had the honour of representing the area I love, I always put Borderers and their best interests first and I promise to do so again, if the people of the Borders once again put their faith in me.”

For decades the Scottish Borders was a bastion for Liberal then Lib-Dem politicians.

But Nick Clegg's ill-fated coalition with David Cameron in 2010 led to a collapse in both trust and votes for the party.

Michael Moore's relatively safe seat was lost to the SNP in 2015 as he suffered a 20 percent drop in support.

The Lib-Dems fell to fourth in 2017 with fewer than 2,500 votes.

But a fresh enthusiasm under Jo Swinson and her anti-Brexit campaign has seen support grow once more across much of the UK.

Politics graduate Jenny Marr hopes the Lib-Dems can once again be contenders.

The former Selkirk High pupil, who works in the oil industry, said: "Growing up in the Borders I always felt that the Liberal Democrats put my community first in everything they did and I want to bring that sort of public service and commitment back to Borders politics on the big stage and here at home.

"On the national stage I want to be the pro-UK and pro-EU voice that reflects the dominant view here.

"And at home, I don’t pretend to have a magic wand, but if there’s a street light needing fixed, a pothole needing filled or a Government policy hurting you or your community, tell me.

"Fear and grievance are causing so much division in our politics, but I believe it’s a force for good and I intend to make sure that’s the case in the Borders."

Although previous attempts by UKIP have never resulted in more than gaining a two- or three-percent share of the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk vote, support is growing for the Brexit Party and they are expected to take seats south of the Border.

Michael Banks will hope to tap into the 27,000 Borderers who wanted to leave the EU at the 2016 referendum.

Although Labour moved into third at the 2017 election with more than 4,500 votes, the party has yet to announce a candidate.