COMMUNITY leaders in Selkirk are to push ahead with plans to create their own emergency response team.

Many towns and villages across the Borders have Resilient Community groups in place.

The volunteers clear snow, fetch sandbags during floods and deliver supplies during spells of severe weather.

Plans for a Resilient Community group in Selkirk were mooted around four or five years ago.

But a lack of numbers led to the idea being ditched.

Selkirk Community Council chairman Alistair Pattullo hopes the plan will gather more support this time.

He said: "It wasn't successful the last time but we now have a lot more members on the Community Council and it is something worth exploring.

"Given the extreme weather we had a few weeks ago it may be worth looking at forming a group again.

"If there is only going to be two or three people involved then there is no point, but if there is an appetite then it something worth pursuing."

Selkirk Community Council plans to invite representatives from Scottish Borders Council to make a presentation on Resilient Communities.

Local councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol said: "This is very successful in other places and is something that would benefit Selkirk."