ORGANISERS of the 25th anniversary Scottish Borders Walking Festival have hailed it a huge success.

As well as being rewarded with unanimous five-star ratings by visitors, the festival in Selkirk and the surrounding valleys also made a profit.

For seven days from Saturday, September 7 around 800 walkers took part in the 35 organised hikes around the Royal Burgh.

Every one of the walkers who returned feedback forms stated that they would return to the Borders for future walking festivals.

And early indications show that the festival made a profit of around £600, which will be donated to the Tweed Valley Mountain rescue Team.

Alistair Pattullo from the festival organising team said: "The feedback has been extremely positive - the organising team feel like we have really achieved something.

"The help we got throughout the week from volunteers and lots of other people and organisations was excellent.

"Everyone has said they really enjoyed the walks and will return for future festivals.

"We're still waiting on the finalised accounts but it looks like we are at least £600 in profit which will be donated to the mountain rescue."

Walkers were given a send-off on the opening day of the festival by a performance from Peebles community choir InChrous.

Many of the evening events, which included a ceilidh, film show, quiz and dinner, were sold out.

And many local retailers and accommodation providers have reported a boom in business during the week-long festival.

Selkirk Community Council vice-chairman Graham Easton said: "We should offer our thanks to the people who organised the 25th Scottish Borders Walking Festival."