THE usually busy streets of Kelso will be empty this morning as locals head en masse for Murrayfield to cheer on their rugby team in the final of the Tennents Velvet Cup, writes James Robertson.

On a normal Saturday morning, The Square would be buzzing with shoppers from among the 7000-strong population and the numerous hamlets which surround Kelso. But today the early tourists will have The Square to themselves as confidant Kelsonians prepare for victory over Glasgow Hawks.

Kelsonians have suddenly discovered a statistic that not a lot of them knew about - they have at least 79 shops, banks, offices and other outlets, including pubs, in The Square and the side streets running from it. That's the number of businesses which entered for best window display in support of the team in a competition run in the countdown to the big day.

The innovative displays included one by a cashmere garments shop featuring a stuffed cashmere goat. Hamish, whose distinguished career has included prominent display in Jenner's department store, in Edinburgh, drew disbelieving looks as he crossed The Square with the shop's manageress, Ms Isobel Smith, to take up his stance in the Kelso shop.

The winner was Mrs Pam Peoples, who created a life-sized rugby player - in the Kelso strip - from materials she sells in her soft furnishings shop. As wife of a Kelso RFC committee member, she already had a ticket for the final but her prize means that she'll enjoy full VIP treatment.

Another shop featured cut-out forms of the Kelso side, topped by portraits of the players. A short walk away, a delicatessen was selling ''cup final chutney''.

A window in the Cross Keys Hotel, which looks on to The Square, carried an exhortation which demanded explanation: ''Forza Kelso - Make a Meal of Them''.

It was Italian-born manager Marcello Becattelli's contribution. ''Loosely translated, forza means get into them,'' he said. ''That's what Italians shouted to cheer on their teams. I'd be shouting it at Murrayfield if I was there.'' But with guests to consider, he will be working today.

Not many Kelsonians will be doing that. Mrs Isbel Roxburgh is taking time off from her job as a pharmacist to cheer on her son, Adam, and his team-mates.

''The only prescription I'd recommend for the team is team spirit. That's what will win them the cup,'' she said.

The general belief is that the Kelso side enjoy one great advantage over their Glasgow rivals for the trophy. ''They'll be playing for the town's name, and there's hardly a person in the town who doesn't have a relative or some other close connection among the team,'' one elderly Kelso man said.

Kelso legend John Jefferies won't be at the game. He had already promised to take part in a charity match being played in England in aid of the wife of former international team-mate Derek White. She suffers from multiple sclerosis. ''But my thoughts will be with Kelso. I'm sure they'll do well,'' he said.