More than £3 million is to be invested to improve play areas and outdoor community spaces across the Scottish Borders.

Councillors have agreed to spend £3.1m over the next four years to upgrade play parks, skate park and pump tracks, as well as other outdoor community facilities.

A report set to be presented to the local authority this week anticipated new facilities at;

• Harestanes

• Kelso

• Coldstream

• Hawick

• Peebles

• Jedburgh

• Eyemouth

• Earlston

• a number of other villages throughout the region

Speaking after the opening of the new £290,000 Rowan Boland play park at the weekend, Council Leader Shona Haslam said: "It has been fantastic to be part of the Party in the Park event to celebrate the opening of the Rowan Boland play park. 

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"This park is a £290,000 project and it has a range of fantastic equipment in it for young people from two to 14 year olds, with lots of inclusive play opportunities.

"The new park is a demonstration of what can be done when you invest in high quality facilities and it will help get a generation of children away from their computers and back outdoors being active again.

"Scottish Borders Council is committed to investment and improved facilities throughout the Borders and we have set aside £3.1million over the next four years to ensure that towns and villages across the Borders receive new and improved facilities for young people.

"Working with our partners in Live Borders, the Council is working hard to try and secure a major investment at Harestanes, where we hope to introduce a high level of equipment for children with additional needs including wheelchair swings, roundabouts and activity units."

(LM/MH)