BORDERS MP John Lamont is running a Small Business Awards competition to celebrate “the best of the Borders”.

The competition received more than 200 nominations within the first 24 hours.

In the run-up to Christmas, he is encouraging more people to do business locally and urged people to come forward and provide their own suggestions to crown the “best-loved” small businesses across the area.

Nominations close on Friday December 2 and the winner will be announced on Small Business Saturday, which falls on December 3 this year.

He said: “The level of interest in this competition within the first 24 hours shows just how many brilliant small businesses there are operating all over the Scottish Borders.

“As Christmas approaches, it’s really important to promote the places where people shop, eat, drink, relax and do business locally.

“This Small Business Awards competition will celebrate the fantastic companies doing great work in our local communities.

“I’m asking everyone to nominate their favourite local business so we can highlight the best-loved traders across the Scottish Borders.

“Nominations will close on Friday 2 December so please come forward and tell us which small businesses you think deserve to be recognised as the best of the Borders.”