A BORDERS competition is set to give one lucky winner a £1,000 gift card to spend with more than 100 local businesses.

The 'Win Your Dream Christmas' competition will give people the change to win a £1,000 Scottish Borders Gift Card to spend with local businesses this festive season.

The gift card could help the winner to buy Christmas presents or festive decorations for their home to help get them in the Christmas spirit.

Part of the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card scheme, the Scottish Borders Gift Card can be spent with more than 110 local businesses – including shops, restaurants, and attractions.

Scott Hamilton, executive member for community and business development at Scottish Borders Council said: “There’s so much happening in the Borders this Christmas and who wouldn’t want a £1,000 Scottish Borders Gift Card to enjoy it all.

"From buying festive treats from local retailers to treating the family to new outfits for Christmas day or ticking off those items on Christmas wish lists, it’s all possible for the winner of this competition.

"I encourage all Borderers to get involved and share their dream Christmas wishes."

As part of its work, Scotland Loves Local Gift Card researched what the public loves most about the Christmas season.

According to this research 40 per cent of surveyed people said their love the festive atmosphere the most, 33 per cent chose festive events and activities, 15 per cent said their favourite part of Christmas are presents, and 12 per cent said festive food and drink were their favourites.

However, 72 per cent of respondents said they worry about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, adding that this is a concern for them this Christmas.

Colin Munro, the managing director of Miconex which delivers the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card alongside Scotland’s Towns Partnership, said: “The Win Your Dream Christmas competition is a fun festive competition but it’s also a timely reminder of the importance of shopping local.

"Eighty-seven per cent of people in our August 2023 survey said they support local to keep businesses open.

"Ninety-eight per cent say they will be shopping local this Christmas and 89% plan to buy a gift card.

"The Scottish Borders Gift Card offers the best of the Scottish Borders in one convenient to use gift card.”

The Win Your Dream Christmas closes on December 8.

To enter the free competition, visit: www.winyourxmas.scot