THE Humbie Hub was rewarded for its positive impact on its local community at a national awards ceremony in Glasgow.

The cafe and shop serving the community of Humbie received a commendation at the Scottish CivicTrust My Place Awards after it was nominated by Haddington and District Amenity Society.

The aim of the annual awards, which are supported by the Scottish Government, is to identify projects or buildings that have had a positive impact in a local neighbourhood and have delivered positive benefits to that community.

The Humbie Hub has become the central focus for its local community and been hailed a resounding success. The shop and post office have been transformed beyond recognition and new accommodation has been created for local businesses, one of which provides high-speed broadband for the community.

In a short time, the Hub has become a favoured venue for outings for coffee or a light lunch, drawing visitors from all over the county.

Patrick Flockhart, owner, said: “We were totally surprised and honoured to be nominated for this award at The Hub and feel proud to have been commended.

"It is really testament to a great architect, a terrific project manager and build team, plus a fantastic operations team led by Morag Taylor, who have been really making it happen. It is heart-warming to see it doing so well and I guess the other key prize is seeing The Hub take off with a life of its own.”

The judges hailed the hub as a template for others to look to in the future. They said: “Facing many challenges, the owners have, with the full support and involvement of the community from this small rural settlement, created a new, vibrant and attractive facility for both residents and visitors to enjoy local produce, beautiful scenery and a warm and welcoming presence. The Hub has brought people together in new and unexpected ways and offers a template to inspire other rural communities.”