A council called for a weekly newspaper’s help after being unable to decide whether it preferred curling, squirrels or sheep.

Lockerbie Community Council has secured money for improving roundabouts at the north and south of Lockerbie – but has been unable to decide on the monument which should sit atop them.

As a result, the council has turned to the Annandale Herald to run a poll of readers as to what they would prefer.

Readers have a choice of a squirrel, to represent the award-winning local nature reserve, or curling stones, in honour of the area’s Olympic curlers – David Murdoch, Ewan Byers, Anna Sloan, Claire Hamilton and Lorna Vevers.

A third option of sheep, owing to Lockerbie’s market heritage, is also up for grabs. The Herald splashed on the poll this week.

Editor Fiona Reid told HTFP: “The story has been shared widely, including in Canada, and so far, curling is leading the poll.

“We’re looking forward to the final decision and will be following this through to when the statues are erected.

“There are some in the office that would like to see a curling squirrel statue to represent all the views.”