Man hurt in factory blaze

The Rathburn Chemicals factory employs 20 people

One man has been injured in a fire which destroyed a Borders chemical factory - and prompted the evacuation of those living in neighbouring houses.

The man was taken to hospital after the incident at Rathburn Chemicals in Walkerburn, near Peebles.

The 26-year-old was understood to have suffered burns to his face after an explosion in the boiler room of the single-storey building.

He was taken to St John's Hospital in Livingston.

Fire crews were called to the factory

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police said the incident happened at 1130BST on Tuesday.

Emergency services were called to the scene and it was decided that workers, residents in about 60 nearby homes and children at a primary school should be evacuated.

The residents were allowed back into their homes later on Tuesday.

The fire brigade said precautions had been taken to ensure local watercourses were not polluted.

Rathburn Chemicals, which employs around 20 workers, manufactures and distributes solvents. The factory was destroyed in the blaze.