A BORDERS man has come forward with a 160-year-old copy of a local newspaper.

Mitchell Johnston, of Peebles, spotted last week’s article in the Peeblesshire News documenting council leader Shona Haslam’s surprise discovery while renovating her new house.

Mrs Haslam unearthed an edition of the Peebles News dated February 25, 1899, when tidying up the old courthouse at Peebles High Street.

But now Mr Johnston, 77, wishes to showcase one of his own prized possessions – a copy of the Peeblesshire Advertiser from December 1, 1859.

Mr Johnston, a retired member of the merchant navy, said the paper had originally belonged to his uncle John Somerville, who emigrated to Canada in about 1921 and became the manager of a mill.

Mr Johnston said Somerville, born in 1900, died in 1985. Ten years later, following the death of Somerville’s wife, the paper was handed to Mr Johnston.

“I suppose it’s quite nice to look at it and it reminds me of my uncle coming here for holidays,” said Mr Johnston.