ALEX Salmond would start legal moves to bring Berwick back under Scottish control if the town's residents voted to leave England in a referendum, it emerged yesterday.
A spokesman for the First Minister said borders were "fluid" and there were precedents from around the world of towns changing hands from one government to another.
He was responding to the results of a new poll of residents in Berwick-upon-Tweed
which found a clear majority in favour of becoming part of Scotland.
The survey for ITV1's Tonight programme saw 1,182 voters in favour of becoming part of Scotland (more than 60 per cent) and 775 in favour of staying in England.
The programme, to be screened in Scotland tomorrow night and south of the Border tonight, said the poll reflected "concerns" about better services including free personal care for the elderly, better access to new medicines, the absence of upfront university tuition fees, and the promise of free school meals for young children.
The findings follow a similar poll on the Berwick Advertiser newspaper website in which 78 per cent said they would like to see the town return north of the Border.
In a checkered history, the town changed hands more than 13 times between 1147 and 1482.
Producers of the TV programme said the poll turnout of 1,957 votes compared to some 3,800 in the last local elections.
A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: "If there was an official referendum, there is no administration, no matter what party is in charge, who would not take Berwick back. It would be foolhardy for Westminster to ignore the wishes of the people. If there was a vote in favour, we would respect that self-determination and make the necessary representation to Westminster.
"Borders are fluid and there would have to be negotiations, but there are precedents for this happening from around the world."
Writing in a Sunday newspaper, the First Minister said it was clear that there was "significant support" for Berwick to become Scottish, but he said it was wrong to see the debate solely in terms of public services and money.
Mr Salmond said: "We prefer to look on the views of the people of Berwick as an indication they prefer the policy programme of Edinburgh to the diktat of faraway London."
And he added: "We have no territorial ambitions for any part of England. But if it were to be agreed by Westminster that the views of the people of Berwick should be respected, I am sure any government in Edinburgh would be happy to welcome them home."
Michael Ross, a former policeman from Berwick, who headed the pro-Scotland campaign for votes, said: "Berwick is a very special place and I think it is largely forgotten within England."
Barbara Herdman, a former teacher, campaigned in the town for a pro-English vote and for a change in how public spending is allocated across the UK.
"The Scots are getting more money than we are. I'm not saying that the Scots should not get what they get, but that we should get the same," she said.
The programme-makers said: "The government funding formulas for the national regions are increasingly a subject of great debate for politicians and social commentators, particularly since the SNP, who are campaigning for Scottish independence, came to power.
"Latest public-spend figures indicate that each Scot now gets £1,500 more per head spent on them from public funds than their English neighbour."
