WORK has started on the new Borders Gateway development at Tweedbank.

New Land Assets are building a hotel, drive-thru coffee shop, and petrol station on a site next to the Melrose roundabout.

The scheme was granted planning permission in September.

And this week diggers have moved in to begin clearing work.

Managing director of New Land Assets Duncan Hamilton told us: "We are delighted to start the enabling work on the site and I am sure local people will be pleased to see us progressing with the development.”

The development on Tweedbank Drive includes a 71 bed Premier Inn hotel, a Costa drive-thru, and a BP petrol filling station with M&S kiosk.

The hotel was granted an operating licence last month by Scottish Borders Council.

A completion date for the £12 million project has yet to be announced.