House cordoned off and man arrested after search for missing 11-year-old girl in Galashiels

A house has been cordoned off and a man arrested after a major search was launched for an 11-year-old girl in the Borders.

Police Scotland and members of the public joined in a mass hunt after a schoolgirl disappeared in Galashiels on Sunday at around 5.30pm

After a frantic search effort lasting more than 24 hours, the child was found “safe and well” on Monday.

She was traced to a property in the Galashiels area at around 9.30pm.

A police cordon was established around a home in Gattonside, a small village east of Galashiels town on the opposite side of the River Tweed to Melrose. STV News

A police cordon was established around a home in Gattonside, a small village east of Galashiels on the opposite side of the River Tweed to Melrose.

Personnel in white forensic overalls could be seen entering the property with an area of the village remained closed off late on Tuesday.

A 53-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the girl’s disappearance while enquiries into the incident continue.

A spokesperson for the force said: “A 53-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of an 11-year-old girl from Galashiels, who was reported missing on Sunday, 5 February, 2023.

“The girl was traced at a property in the Galashiels area around 9.30pm on Monday, 6 February.

“Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.”

A police appeal sparked a massive response from locals who turned out to help search for the missing girl.

“The community everyone came together, people from Lelso and a bus load from Edinburgh came down,” one woman told STV News. “It’s just great that she’s been found well.”

“She’s a really sweet, little girl, she wouldn’t say boo to a ghost, she wouldn’t harm anybody,” another said.

“It’s a bit scary that she vanished for that time.”

“A lot of people were out last night looking for her as well, and I’m grateful that they managed to find her,” one man told STV News.