A 150-YEAR-OLD Scottish army tradition is facing the axe by the Ministry of Defence.

Borders weavers Robert Noble have provided the cloth for the kilts and tartan trews worn by Scots soldiers since 1850.

But the Ministry of Defence have announced the £300,000 contract to supply tartan cloth for the outfits of the new Royal Regiment of Scotland will go to competitive tendering.

It means the cloth could be made outwith Scotland – in Europe or even the Far East.

Weavers use a traditional method to produce top-quality cloth which is sent to a Yorkshire contractor to make the kilts.

The Peebles-based firm, who employ 100 staff, have already designed and produced small samples of the new tartan – but now have to tender if they want to win the order for 15,000 metres of fabric to make up to 5000 kilts.

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