THE British Heart Foundation is calling on Peebles residents to establish a new funding group.

Bosses at the charity are hoping to raise much-needed cash to carry out heart research.

Around 15,500 people across the Borders are fighting a daily battle with heart and circulatory disease. 

And each year these conditions claim the lives of more than 386 people across the region.

Sarah Miller (pictured), British Heart Foundation Scotland fundraising manager for the Lothians and Borders, says a new group in the town could help save lives.

She told us: “Heart disease is heartless. Too many lives are lost in the Scottish Borders each year, and we’re determined to do everything we can to protect more families from this devastation.

“By starting up a fundraising group you can help fund the research that’s so desperately needed to bring us closer to beating heart disease. 

“Together we can save more lives, and it’s a fantastic way to meet new people and make a real difference in your community.”

The charity’s research has helped halve death rates from heart and circulatory disease over the past 50 years. Through donations, it will also fund half a billion pounds of new research over the next five years.

For more, visit http://bhf.org.uk/localfundraising or email Sarah on millers@bhf.org.uk.