A BORDERS bus company is wrapping itself in tartan to support a charity founded by one of rugby’s most recognisable characters.

Borders Buses has covered one of its double deckers in tartan to back the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation - the charity founded by the former rugby star Doddie Weir OBE.

Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2017, Doddie set up the foundation to raise awareness and funding for research into a cure.

The eye-catching bus is fully wrapped in the former rugby star’s own tartan and highlights ways to donate to the foundation.

So far the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation has provided more than £2 million for MND research projects.

Doddie is delighted with the colourful new bus.

He told us: "The bus is a real head turner - I love the fact people will be reminded of the foundation and what we are trying to do to help find a cure for MND while travelling through the Borders on the bus!

“We appreciate the efforts of everyone who made this possible and I am looking forward to my first journey.”

The Doddie Bus will operate on Borders Buses X62 service Peebles to Edinburgh.

Lee Young, operations manager at Borders Buses, said: “Doddie Weir is one of Scotland’s, if not the UK’s, most recognised and loved rugby personalities and we are delighted to be in a position to offer support in this way.

“Motor Neurone Disease is a degenerative illness and has such an impact on the lives of not just those with the disease but friends and family too.

"We hope the bus, which will operate on our X62 service, encourages lots of people to text a donation.”

The Doddie Bus was designed, and artwork donated, by Chris Hannah, creative director at Glasgow design agency Maguires.

Chris added: “Maguires are incredibly proud to have played a part in helping raise awareness for such an important cause.

“I saw Doddie play many times during his illustrious career and I really wanted the design of the bus to reflect the impact Doddie had on and off the field - so a bus clad in the official foundation tartan seemed like the perfect fit.”

Julianne Smith, brand communicator at Borders Buses added: “The bus looks amazing and we would like to say a big thank you to Chris for designing and generously donating the artwork. It will definitely raise a few eyebrows, smiles and hopefully money to a worthy cause.”

To donate to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation text Doddie to 70970.