A BORDERS town has been named as one of the top three finalists for a prestigious award.

Thanks to the Vibrant Gala Project – a regeneration initiative led by Energise Galashiels Trust and funded by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) and Scottish Borders Council (SBC) – Galashiels is a finalist at the 2023 Scottish Regeneration Forum (SURF) Awards.

The Vibrant Gala Project oversaw the delivery of various community events and programmes like The Heartland Market, the Tangled Fibre Festival and the Property and Shopfront Grant Programme which provided funding for business improvements.

Ian Dalgleish, chair of Energise Galashiels Trust, said: "We are delighted to be named a finalist in the 2023 SURF Awards.

"The Vibrant Gala Project has been a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared vision.

"We look forward to welcoming the judges to our town and showcasing our progress."

The Vibrant Gala Project is nominated in the Improving Scotland's Places category at the SURF Awards.

The SURF Awards aim to provide an opportunity for communities across Scotland with regeneration projects to show their communities and supporters the value of their services.

Judging for the awards will take place this month, and three judges will visit the town to get a first-hand experience of the project's impact in Galashiels.

The winner of the award will be announced at an awards ceremony in on December 7 at the Voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow.