SENIOR pupils from Peebles High have been hailed as a credit to their school and community after being decanted to Galashiels Academy following November's fire.

The Peebles students have frequented the local cafes in Galashiels.

And have become well known in the town for their impeccable manners and behaviour.

One woman took to a Peebles community social media site to say 'she has never been prouder to live in Peebles' thanks to the example shown by the students.

Margaret McCracken, who lived in Galashiels before moving to Peebles two years ago, said the senior pupils have 'completely endeared themselves to everyone in the town with their lovely manners and attitude'.

Speaking to the Peeblesshire News this week, Margaret told us that what she witnessed while having coffee with friends at Quins restaurant, warmed her heart.

She said: “The group of pupils were just sitting having a chat amongst themselves and it was revealed it was one pupil’s birthday. Everyone started singing and the wee soul looked embarrassed but he said thank you very much to everyone.

“They were in front of me paying and I heard the member of staff saying how much they were going to miss the Peebles pupils, telling them they were a real asset to their school and they were sorry to be losing them as they go back to Peebles High.

“One girl handed over a box of chocolates to say thank you. I stood there proud to know that these young people are from my home town.”

This sentiment was back by Leader of Scottish Borders Council, Shona Haslam, who commended the pupils at last week’s meeting of the town’s community council.

She said: “Our senior pupils have gone on study leave and so have finished at Galashiels Academy.

"The students went around all the local food venues in the town where they’ve been buying lunches and delivered boxes of chocolates to say thank you to the staff for making them feel so welcome and embracing them as their own.

“Our young people are absolutely fantastic. They are setting such a good example and we can be rightly proud of them. Whether it is small acts such as this or holding us to account on climate change, their voices matter and we should listen much more to what they have to say and the example they set.”