A HOLIDAY lets company is urging tourists to treat the Borders with "respect".

Crabtree & Crabtree founder Emma Crabtree has admitted that the movement of holidaymakers to self-catering accommodation from Friday (July 3) could “generate concern” among communities.

But she says her company has drawn up guidance for visitors.

“We have developed a statement to encourage guests to respect and support the local community,” Mrs Crabtree said.

“This follows our ‘on our doorstep’ campaign that we created to support and promote local businesses that remained open during lockdown.

“As an independent business, and residents of the area in which we sell, Crabtree & Crabtree cares about our local community, and we are therefore encouraging guests to holiday responsibly and to continue to follow the government guidelines.”

Mrs Crabtree says her company – which manages properties throughout the Borders, Northumberland and East Lothian – is following official rules on cleaning and hygiene.

“Our properties are already cleaned to a high standard and, in light of the current situation, our property owners have been provided with national guidelines in relation to cleaning protocols, which set out the extra measures to be taken,” said Mrs Crabtree.