VOLUNTEERS in the Borders have been working hard to make their town beautiful in time for judges visiting next month.

Earlston in Bloom has been filling the town with colour as they prepare to welcome judges from the Beautiful Scotland awards (part of Keep Scotland Beautiful) as part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s UK-wide Britain in Bloom campaign.

Judges will visit the Borders on Thursday, August 1 to assess the group's efforts based on Beautiful Scotland's three pillars: horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation.

Joint lead of Earlston in Bloom, Sheila Gibb, said: “We’re looking forward to judging but slightly nervously as this is the first time we’ve entered such a prestigious competition and can only hope they appreciate all our effort and hard work to make Earlston look as bright, colourful and welcoming as possible.”

Judging will take place across Scotland between July 29 and August 11.

Then the award-winning groups will be able to celebrate their achievements at the annual Beautiful Scotland celebration at Duthie Park in Aberdeen on Monday, September 9.

Juliette Camburn, senior officer of community initiatives at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “This time of the year is so exciting as our volunteer judges prepare to visit our wonderful family of groups all over the country.

“Every year we are blown away by the dedication, passion and determination of our groups to improve their local environment, not only for themselves and the people who live there but for visitors from across the world and for our wildlife too.

“Ahead of the judges visiting Earlston in Bloom on August 1 I not only want to wish them the best of luck but also thank them for their fantastic enthusiasm.”

Beautiful Scotland is part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Climate and Nature Friendly Communities Network, alongside the non-competitive It’s Your Neighbourhood.

For more information on Beautiful Scotland, visit: www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/our-communities-network

And to see more of the work done by Earlston in Bloom, visit the group's Facebook page.