Twenty-eight year old soldier Beth Duggleby was presented with an MBE by the King for operational services in the field during an investiture at Windsor Castle.

A newly-registered childminder is up and running and set to welcome the first children into her business in the Glenkens thanks to an innovative campaign to recruit new childminders in rural areas.

Scottish Women's Institute (SWI) member Margaret Brown of Carsphairn has been presented with the organisation's Loyalty Award by Mary Burney, the SWI's national president.

It’s 6:30am and, armed with my tow float, I take a deep breath and plunge into the ice cold loch. Frost twinkles as the water laps all around as I swim. I feel clarity and calm. It’s stunning, so peaceful, yet 100% invigorating.