MORE than £1300 has been handed over to a local youth charity following the record-breaking torchlight procession through Peebles on Hogmanay.

The Peeblesshire Youth Trust is the benefactor from this year's celebration.

Around 3500 people entered into the New Year spirit by taking part in the walk.

And more than 700 of them purchased a torch to help create a river of flames through the town and along the banks of the Tweed.

Sarah Keen, programme manager of Peeblesshire Youth Trust, told us: "We were delighted to be chosen as the charity partner by the torchlight procession.

"Our volunteers had an excellent experience helping with the event which was quite a spectacle.

"Our charity is so pleased to receive such a generous donation from the torchlight procession - this enables us to continue working with more and more young people across Tweeddale.

“This year in particular will be challenging for many Peebles High School students, and for those pupils due to move from local primary schools to the high school, so our work will be more crucial than ever in offering support to vulnerable young people.

"This funding therefore is very welcome at a vital time. Huge thanks again to all those involved in the torchlight procession.”

The procession, organised by Peebles-based Hillside Outside Ltd, attracted many visitors to the area with around 60 percent of those attending coming from outside the Scottish Borders region.

Families from as far away as USA, France, Switzerland, Holland and Germany also took part.

The event is staged every two years and organisers are currently exploring options for an after-procession celebration to continue through the bells in future years.