The funding is part of a £9 million allocation announced for councils and housing associations across the country.

In the Scottish Borders the funding will deliver external wall insulation to 25 homes in Tweedbank, owned by Waverley Housing and Eildon Housing Association. It will also fund a range of insulation measures such as floor and loft insulation for a number of homes owned by Scottish Borders Housing Association.

Councillor Frances Renton, the council’s executive member for social work and housing, said: “This funding will enable a range of energy efficiency improvements to be made to a number of homes, which will be of huge benefit to the tenants, providing them with warmer and more comfortable homes in addition to reduced fuel bills.”

Of the properties in Tweedbank to be improved, 21 are owned by Waverley Housing.

Margaret Ross, chief executive of Waverley Housing, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Council on this scheme, which will enable improvements to be made to a significant number of our properties in Tweedbank.

“When building new homes it is relatively easy to make them energy efficient, however it can be more expensive and complicated to improve existing, older properties, so this funding will make a real difference.”