HAWICK Common Riding has been cancelled for the second year in a row because of coronavirus.

The festival's committee says it made the decision after receiving advice from Scottish Borders Council.

Lesley Fraser, secretary of the Hawick Common Riding Committee, said the group had taken the decision in the "interest of the whole community".

She said: "Hawick Common Riding Committee SCIO first and foremost must ensure the safety of all those participating in its events.

"Historically the Common Riding was based on the need to protect the townspeople and have taken the difficult, but it hopes you agree the responsible decision, to recommend that, for the second year running, Hawick Common Riding 2021 does not go ahead, in the interest of the whole community.

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"To this end it was felt unfair to elect a Cornet and Acting Father this year, when events would be severely curtailed.

"As last year the committee remain fully committed to marking the Common in some way at an appropriate time, when circumstances permit and will endeavour to deliver another Virtual Common Riding, which was greatly received by Teries the world over.

"We hope that this decision will have the backing of the townsfolk."

The committee says it made its decision after reading a letter from David Robertson, the local authority's joint acting chief executive.

According to the committee, Mr Robertson wrote: "It would appear that we would need to be in Level 0 or Level 1 [of lockdown restrictions] for consideration of any form of attended event, whether indoors or outdoors, to take place and there would be controls applied around both the numbers attending and the format.

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"If we were in Level 2 and above then events are, generally, not permitted.

"The likelihood of a traditional common riding with mass gathering events in May and June would be extremely challenging, and unlikely given the controls you would need to operate in under the five-tier system.

"However, the suggested format of a blend of small-scale attended events within the [Level] 0 and 1 guidelines and virtual events is a sensible proposal and the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) would be available to you to provide advice and guidance around any planning."