THIS year's Remembrance service in Selkirk will operate under new restrictions as only invited guests will be allowed to attend.

At a meeting of Selkirk Community Council on Monday (October 12), David Deacon told members what measures were being taken to ensure the annual Remembrance service could go ahead.

Mr Deacon said: "I think it's vitally important, especially with this year that we've been through, that Selkirk does pay its act of Remembrance – whatever we do."

He added: "Remembrance is not going to be the same as we normally have.

"There will be no parade – this is guidance from Scottish Government and Legion Scotland.

"What I do intend to do, and what I've applied for and spoken to SBC [Scottish Borders Council] and police already, is to do a socially distanced service at Selkirk war memorial at 11am on November 8.

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"This will be a controlled event, under the current regulations."

Members of the public who would normally join the service are asked to pay their respects with a two-minute silence at home.

Local groups who would normally attend to lay wreaths have been given official invites for the service on Sunday, November 8.

Mr Deacon added that 21 wreaths will be laid at the war memorial, including those from the Selkirk Ex-Soldiers Association, Scottish Borders Council, and the community council.

In addition to the service, this year's poppy appeal in Selkirk will look a little different.

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Fiona Deacon, Mr Deacon's wife, is the area organiser for Poppy Scotland but because of current coronavirus regulations, she will not be running the organisation's usual events such as the coffee morning and lunch service.

However, Mr Deacon said that shop owners in Selkirk were still asked to enter Poppy Scotland's shop window competition.

Mr Deacon has also painted pebbles with a poppy design to share with Souters who would normally join the parade.

For more information, visit the Selkirk Remembers Facebook page.