Dumfries and Galloway's Big DoG Children's Book Festival gets under way online

Mr Ace added: “It’s very important that everyone takes up the opportunity to get two doses of the vaccine – at the point in time when it is offered.“Getting both doses helps provide everyone with the highest degree of protection against the coronavirus.

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“Recently, we’ve spotted barn owls investigating the new box and hopefully it will be used for nesting in future.“This will help conserve the local population of this much-loved species.”

Maria. The verses were originally sent by Burns to his publisher George Thomson in May 1794.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Dumfries and Galloway has seen no new coronavirus cases for the second day running.It means the total remains at 4,134, where it has stood since four cases were confirmed on Saturday.There are currently less than five people in hospital.The seven day positivity rate for the region is 21.5 per 100,000 people, with a test positivity rate of 1.1 per cent.

Helen, meanwhile, is looking forward to in-person befriending services being able to restart as soon as it is safe for them to do so.She said: “We can’t thank the volunteers and the staff of the shopping service enough for all they have done in the past year.

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The test positivity fell from one per cent to 0.5 per cent with the seven day positivity rate at 9.4 per 100,000 people, down from 9.5 the week before.Interim director of public health Valerie White said: “While it is great to see levels remaining low in Dumfries and Galloway we must not be complacent, and we need to work together to keep infection rates low.”More than 60 per cent of the region's adult population have now received their first coronavirus vaccination, with around 10 per cent

The number of people in hospital stands at 405 - down 17 from yesterday - and there are 38 people in intensive care.Sadly, a further seven people have died, taking the overall total to 7,536.

A council spokesman said: “It’s the thoughtless actions of a minority of drivers that not only spoils the local landscape and creates a danger to wildlife but also places the lives of the community assets teams, who carry out the litter picking, at risk. “Please be considerate when driving and take your litter home for the sake of your community, wildlife and the council streetscene workers.”Mark Jardine, founder of The People’s Project in Dumfries, has also hit out at litter louts.

Big Thief guitarist Buck Meek has given an update on the status of the band’s new album, revealing that it’s “pretty much done”.Speaking to Guitar.com in a new interview, Meek revealed that the band have been quietly working on their fifth album over the past year.“Lockdown was a well-needed respite, I needed a break,” he said.

Dumfries High has been described as being at the “end of life” and has a number of issues with it including in its structure and concrete frame.It will be allocated £48 million, Loreburn Primary £7 million and Dumfries Academy £16.5 million.