DESPITE the freezing temperatures in Hawick this afternoon, Nicola Sturgeon received a warm welcome from the large crowd that gathered as part of Calum Kerr's campaign to become MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk.

The First Minister was first greeted by representatives of Cycling Without Age, who displayed three of their Trishaws with their pilots and a selection of community members they help get around.

A world-wide movement created in Copenhagen, Cycling Without Age has many aims including combating isolation amongst the elderly and disabled, but also, tackling the issue of sustainability.

Sustainability and the environment have become high agenda topics in the last year or so, and the SNP leader promised that the latter is a priority to this campaign.

She told us: "The environment is at the heart of the SNP's campaign. It's at the heart of what the Scottish Government are doing.

"Scotland has the most ambitious climate change targets in the world and we have some of the most ambitious policies.

"We're recognised by the United Nations as a world leader, but everybody should be prioritising the environment.

"Climate change is an issue that transcends all of the other issues in this election and it's a key priority for the SNP."

The First Minister will appear at the British-Irish Council summit tomorrow in Dublin.

Alongside Calum Kerr, candidates for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk for the General Election on Thursday, December 12 are:

Ian Davidson - Scottish Labour

John Lamont - Scottish Conservatives

Jenny Marr - Scottish Liberal Democrat