More than 400 guests turned out for the annual awards ceremony at Springwood Hall in Kelso which saw seven businesses and organisations from across the region recognised for their achievements over the past year.

Winners received a handcrafted trophy made by Yarrow sculptor Sam Wade and a variety of prizes donated by local companies.

Plastic-bag campaign organiser Jenna Agate, who collected the award, said: "Getting this lovely award is absolutely brilliant and it's great news for Selkirk.

"The people of Selkirk, the traders and the shoppers, have fully embraced the idea of a plastic bag-free town and this award is an affirmation of that support and an acknowledgement of their efforts to reduce the number of plastic bags used in the town.

"Selkirk can be proud of the work it has done to create change in our environment and to protect the countryside.

"As a result there is a noticeable reduction in the amount of litter on our streets, in the hedgerows and in the river. Shoppers can be seen daily using and reusing their own shopping bags and the town centre is cleaner and tidier for it."

Selkirk officially became the first plastic bag-free town in Scotland in April this year, with 104 of the town's 108 shops and businesses pledging their support.

On the day of the launch, organisers gave away 1,000 fairtrade shopping bags made from recycled cotton and carrying a campaign logo designed by local schoolchildren.

Since then other towns and villages from across the country have been in touch with organisers of the Selkirk campaign, inspired to do something themselves to create change in the environment and protect the countryside.

"From Oban to Hawick and Banchory to Berwick, people have heard of Selkirk's campaign and are inspired to do something too to help their own environment," Jenna added. "The repercussions are ongoing."

The Scottish Borders Awards 2008 trophy can be seen in the window of the Forest Bookstore in the Market Place.

Selkirk bags are on sale at The Forest Bookstore and Hinnigans. For more information visit www.selkirkplasticbagfree.co.uk

z BUTCHER Gordon Newlands was landed with a headache when the town decided to boost its green image by going plastic-bag free, writes Daniel Wilson.

The Halliwells' boss had just order 65,000 bags emblazoned with the company name.

In a bid to get rid of the bags speedily he organised a competition to see how far away from Selkirk a customer could take a bag – and provide photographic proof.

The winner was local lad Murray McFarlane who reached Tokyo during a gap year from university.