Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC Scotland news website

If you've stayed with us today, hope we've captured a hectic news day across the south of Scotland for you.

Back tomorrow from 9am but, in the meantime, email your stories, pictures and thoughts on this service to dumfries@bbc.co.uk or selkirk.news@bbc.co.uk.

AP McCoy grabbed an expected win at Kelso racecourse this afternoon aboard Cheltenham Gold Cup fancy Holywell.

The champion jockey, who is retiring at the end of the season, won at odds of 1/4.

It's been an historic day in Tweedbank as the final piece of track for the Borders Railway was laid.

BBC Scotland reporter Cameron Buttle has been there to witness the events. Watch his report here.

BBC Scotland Weather
Latest

Thick cloud holds on across the south of Scotland this evening and overnight but winds from the south and will be strong around the west coast, for the Rhins of Galloway and along the Solway coast at times too.

A mild night, with lows of 5C, and the cloud thick enough to produce some light spots of rain.

Tune in again at 16:30 and 17:30 for our local radio bulletins from Dumfries and Selkirk.

Rob Mason emails: In general I am very pleased to see that it is progressing as well as was planned, indeed it was one of the reasons why we chose our new home (near the new Eskbank Station).

I look forward to it opening and can only hope that it has been designed with enough spare capacity. I say this as I have seen a large number of housing developments springing up along the route (if you build it, they will come...). These developments will add to the expected number of passengers and I hope this has been taken into account so that the railway does not become a victim of it's own success.

Scottish Borders Council

tweets, external: Emma & Gleb had an owl deliver both rings for their Peebles wedding conducted by our registrar scotborders.gov.uk/registrars

Image source, Scottish Borders Council

WL Barrie emails: As someone who lives in the borders and travels to Edinburgh several times a week I know of nobody except politicians who thinks the railway is money well spent, there is nothing at Tweedbank to attract tourists.

The journey, by the time I get to Tweedbank and then into the centre of Edinburgh is more than double that by car, and you cannot live in the borders without a car so I'll still be paying road tax, mot and insurance and goodness knows what the fares will be like.

Racing UK tweets, external: Jockey @AP_McCoy was part of the famous carrot presentation at @KelsoRacecourse earlier this afternoon. #CatchAPMcCoy

Image source, Racing UK

Brian Hill emails: Any form of better communication can only be good for the area it serves - the Borders and the country as a whole - Scotland, a country which has been badly run down for decades by successive Labour and Tory UK Governments.

Lately, Labour in Holyrood have been lamentable in terms improving Scotland's infrastructure - which explains SNP success since 2007. Like many of us on this route, I will take frequent trips down into this beautiful part of the country. An excellent move for everyone.

David Brotchie emails: I don't often agree with MPs. However, Michael Moore is correct in his assessment of this rail line. I have no doubt that the economy of the Scottish Borders will be transformed for the good and there will be a significant improvement in local job prospects. You only have to look at the new housing developments along the route to see this already taking place.

Traffic Scotland
Latest

tweets, external: UPDATE on #A74(M) closure N/B @ J21 - traffic queuing back approx. half a mile from start of diversion route #BeAware #PlanAhead

Firefighters have been called out to tackle a blaze involving a lorry on the A712 near Balmaclellan in Dumfries and Galloway.

Image source, SFRS

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service crews were sent to the scene at 11:15.

Nearby homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure. There are no reports of any injuries.

Geoff Slater emails: In my view a far better use of £294M than some of the other potential expenditures for such an amount, e.g. one F-22 fighter aircraft. It is also comparatively cheap when compared to the reported (escalating) costs for HS2. Surely the way to go for more regional railway links, recouping (at last) the losses incurred as a result of Beeching.

A fresh call is being made to Scotland's Children's Commissioner to investigate planned cuts to learning support staff in Dumfries and Galloway.

Image source, Thinkstock

A parents' campaign group has written to Tam Ballie expressing its on-going concerns about the proposed loss of 52 posts.

Education convenor Geoff Leaver re-iterated that the council would be happy to discuss the restructuring plans directly with the Children's Commissioner.

He said the council's consultation on the review had involved more than 40 meetings, many of them attended by youngsters with additional support requirements.

Rab T emails: Not as costly as the £800 million for 5 miles of Glasgow motorway in 2008.

Paul Higbee emails: I am bowled over that somewhere in the UK has a new rail service coming on line. It is fantastic news and just shows the imbalance of Scotland getting £1,600 for every £1 we get in England for such infrastructure. I wish the new line every success and long lived use by the local population and traders.

Hugh G. Campbell emails: Great news for the Borders. Now for the connection to Carlisle.

Galloway Gazette

tweets, external: Wigtown curler Christine Cannon out-gunned her opposition 14-0 in the 2nd round of the Scottish Seniors at Hamilton Ice Rink in just 6 ends.

The M74 at Kirkpatrick Flemming should reopen by 3pm, according to police.

The northbound carriageway has been closed since about 04:00, when a lorry overturned at junction 21.

A 68-year-old man who was driving the vehicle is in a serious condition in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

Inspector Darren Faulds of the road policing department said: "The significant recovery operation is ongoing and officers have been working since the crash occurred this morning with other agencies, including Transport Scotland and the recovery company to turn the lorry.

"Work is now continuing to secure its heavy load to ensure that we avoid the damaged refrigerated container splitting open and its contents spilling out."

R Dickson emails: This railway must be the biggest white elephant that the Scottish borders council have been involved in. There will be a large number of passengers for the 1st 6 months then very few. The bill every year for subsidy will be huge. Nobody from the eastern borders will travel to tweedbank to spend 55 minutes going to edinburgh when from berwick it is 40 minutes.

Detailed plans for a holiday development near Jedburgh have been unveiled.

Businessman Javid Ashraf already has planning permission in principle for the 15 chalets at Glen Douglas.

Mr Ashraf has submitted a three-phase schedule for developing the site to Scottish Borders Council this week.

Duncan emails: This project is a hugely welcome infrastructure development and should bring major benefits for the borders. But why is it not double track for its entire length? This could place major restrictions on what it can be used for, especially during the summer months. And it's totally ridiculous opening a new railway powered by diesel trains at this stage. Why on earth is not electric from day one? But the journey time at 55 minutes seems a bit long—a slow train indeed.