THE SNP has unveiled a further candidate to contest Tweeddale East at the forthcoming local authority elections.

Hot on the heels of last week's announcement that Stuart Bell is standing for re-election to Scottish Borders Council, the local branch of the party announced a second candidate this week.

Simon Ritchie from Peebles, who currently works for local MSP Christine Grahame, will stand alongside councillor Bell in the Tweeddale East ward.

Simon told the Peeblesshire News: "I am deeply honoured and delighted to have been selected by the Tweeddale Branch of the SNP to stand for Tweeddale East alongside Stuart Bell.

"I grew up in this area and it's always been home for me. To be able to represent it on the council would be a real privilege.

"I have gained lots of experience in local politics over the years and have built up strong relationships with the council, local housing associations, the local police and our local MSP - knowing how things work and who to go to is crucial in getting results for constituents.

"I have helped hundreds of local people in recent years and, if elected as a councillor, I would use that experience to be a passionate advocate for Tweeddale East and its residents."

The SNP will have local businesswoman Heather Anderson standing in Tweeddale West.

Councillor Bell believes decision making locally is vital for improving the services of Scottish Borders Council.

And he believes a further SNP voice will tackle the current issues.

Councillor Bell added: "Over the last six weeks I have been out with teams of supporters talking to voters right across the Tweeddale East ward.

"It is clear that whilst there are concerns about the council's provision of specific services, there is a strong body of opinion that Scottish Borders Council is not good at engaging with the public, and an even stronger view that the council should bring more policy decisions and the oversight of service to a local level.

"The Tweeddale branch of the Scottish National Party therefore decide that it was a priority to put onto the council a strong enough group of councillors to ensure that our local policy initiatives to bring more effective democracy to SBC can be implemented.

"Whilst all SNP councillors put their constituent and local priorities first, it is well known that individual or independent councillors cannot have the impact and leverage that a group can.

"For these reasons we have recently taken the surprise decision to ask Simon Ritchie to be a fellow SNP candidate in Tweeddale East.

"Simon has experience, intelligence and enthusiasm, and he has age is on his side. I am really pleased he has agreed to run for council along with myself."