A BORDERS councillor has revealed how “horrendous” poverty levels are having an impact on his constituents after sharing a heart-breaking plea he received from a struggling pensioner.

Hawick & Denholm independent representative Stuart Marshall was speaking during a debate on the Scottish Borders Anti-Poverty Strategy for 2024-29 at a meeting of full council on Thursday.

Mr Marshall revealed how he had been asked to deliver food parcels to residents.

He said: “For my ward of Hawick & Denholm, the figures for child poverty, over 31 per cent, compared to 24 per cent nationally, are currently nothing short of horrendous.

“Even with all the work being done by partners and organisations, there is still a mountain to climb in order to drive down those figures.”

He added: “A few weeks ago, I received a letter from a very elderly constituent who, through no fault of their own, is in a real desperate situation.

“It read, ‘Stuart, I’m so sorry that I have to come to you again once more but things are desperate now and I need to find a way of keeping going. Juggling bills and buying food is very difficult just now. I really do hate asking you Stuart for support, but I don’t have a lot of options open to me’.”

With the help of council officers, the Salvation Army and a local volunteer, support was given quickly.

However, Mr Marshall added: “How many vulnerable constituents are out there whom we have not identified or who are too proud to get in touch?

“I genuinely fear, with the withdrawal of the winter heating payments and, God forbid, a very severe winter, that we will have a real life-threatening situation on our hands.”