A new European ruling is to blame for a delay to the start of building works on the new Kelso High School, it has been claimed.

The Scottish Borders Council (SBC) said the ruling has affected a number of investment projects, including the Schools for the Future initiative. Such schemes are processed through the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), but while these were formerly treated as private sector projects, they now have to be viewed as public sector projects.

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As a result, the proposed £21.4m school can not commence as originally planned.

In a statement, the local authority said both the Scottish Futures Trust and Scottish Government were working to "ensure a solution is found as soon as possible".

The new high school will be constructed at Nethershot on Angraflat Road in the area and would replace the 1930s building. Its facilities will include a new grass pitch and synthetic sports pitch, plus community facilities. Planning permission for the development was granted in October 2014.

(JP/MH)