BORDERS environmentalists say a large banner has "gone missing".

XR Scottish Borders put up a large sign next to the former railway station in Melrose last Wednesday to support the efforts of young people during the Fridays for Future climate emergency campaign.

But within a day, the activists noticed the banner had been taken down.

A spokesperson for the group said: "XR Scottish Borders are keen to recover a prized banner that went missing less than 24 hours after it was securely attached along a fence at the Melrose Old Station, beside the town bypass, last Wednesday."

If the banner is recovered, the group hope to use it at "future events".

The spokesperson added: “Because of COVID restrictions, we couldn’t gather to demonstrate our support for the event, so instead, one of our artistically talented members created a banner out of recycled materials, to show solidarity with the young Fridays For Future members, some of whom are also Borders Youth Ambassadors for Sustainability.

“They see their future as gravely at risk, unless those in authority and older adults show greater leadership in implementing the transformational changes to our economies and lifestyles, that are needed to repair the damage caused by catastrophic global levels of CO2 emissions and to rebalance and restore our damaged ecosystems.

“The banner was a reminder that a climate emergency has been declared by Scottish Borders Council and we all need to support positive actions that will mitigate climate change and build sustainable green futures.

“Our action was carried out in the spirit of freedom of expression, but it would appear that for some, this is unacceptable.

"XRSB hope that if the banner is found, it will be returned, folded and with a label attached, saying 'to be collected by XRSB' and placed on or under the bench next to the Melrose Station sign."