COMMUNITY leaders in Selkirk are hoping to mount a fundraising campaign to restore a monument to a prominent philanthropist.

There was anger last month when Thomas Craig-Brown's gravestone was dismantled during council safety inspections at Brierylaw cemetery.

As well as being a successful businessman, owning a newspaper and a wool-spinning mill, he was a celebrated historical author, the town's Provost and also gifted Selkirk its first library.

A street in Selkirk still bears his name.

Scottish Borders Council's graveyard testing has caused much upset in many communities with old and unstable stones being either toppled or 'socketed'.

Alistair Pattullo, chairman of Selkirk Community Council, said: "We will look at ways of how we can raise funds to have the memorial repaired.

"It is years and years of neglect in our cemeteries that has brought us to the situation we're in with stones being taken down.

"Nobody, though, is denying the significance of the Craig-Brown memorial or what he did for the town."

Local historian Dougie Purves has led the criticism of the council for dismantling the white cross memorial stone.

He said: "I believe a lot more care could have been taken.

"This is a man who did a lot for Selkirk and that shouldn't be forgotten."

Former teacher Cath Henderson believes Selkirk Common Good Fund should help pay for the repairs.

She said: "Because of the significance of the memorial, the Common Good should provide funding for it to be repaired."