A BORDERS town’s virtual common riding festival has been viewed by more than 200,000 people across the world, according to the council’s convener.

David Parker was speaking at a full meeting of Scottish Borders Council meeting today (June 17).

During his opening remarks, Mr Parker, an independent councillor for Leaderdale and Melrose, praised organisers of Hawick Common Riding for “spearheading” work on virtual festivals.

“This year the celebration has been quite special,” he said. “The Common Riding has not only been viewed in the Borders and Scotland, but worldwide.

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“Everyone in the town was delighted that the schools in Hawick joined in on Hawick Common Riding Thursday with their very special and unique virtual events.”

According to Mr Parker, “over 18 hours of original programming was streamed with 150 speakers and performances”.

Sixty different songs and poems were performed, while a “huge amount” of archive video footage and photos were shown.

All Borders festivals have had to host virtual events for the second year due to the coronavirus pandemic.