A VETERINARY nurse from Newtown St Boswells has been promoted to practice manager of a busy surgery in Edinburgh.

Quickly rising through the ranks Elaine Paterson oversees a team of 15 nurses and nine receptionists at Braid Vets’ three sites in Mayfield Road and Leith Walk, Edinburgh as well as their Dalkeith surgery.

Elaine's dad Bill Crombie was yard foreman at the local auction mart.

And she has had an interest in animals from her formative years in the village.

She started working in the veterinary profession in 1993 as a student nurse in Galashiels.

After more than 20 years assisting vets in surgery, running nurse clinics and treating poorly pets, she will now focus on managing the practice.

Elaine told us: “It is the team at Braid Vets that makes the practice so special, and it is a real honour to be appointed as practice manager.

“We have a group of lovely people, who are highly skilled and dedicated, so they are a real pleasure to work alongside.

“As much as I will miss the clinical side of nursing, I love the management and organisational side, and I’m looking forward to supporting other people in their role.”

Elaine started work at Braid Vets in 2012 when they took over Esk Valley Vets, where she had previously worked.

Before the recent promotion to practice manager, Elaine had been the head veterinary nurse for almost three years.