diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3aeaa082..1684a20d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # General Development Scripts
 
-# Git
+## Git
 
 Helper/Setup/Template scripts for working with git.
 
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Helper/Setup/Template scripts for working with git.
 
 <!-- add details of process.cmd etc -->
 
-# Ethereum
+## Ethereum
 
 Helper/Setup/Template scripts for working with Ethereum/Ethereum clients
 
@@ -22,4 +22,4 @@ Helper/Setup/Template scripts for working with Ethereum/Ethereum clients
 <!-- markdownlint-restore -->
 <!-- prettier-ignore-end -->
 
-<!-- ALL-CONTRIBUTORS-LIST:END -->
\ No newline at end of file
+<!-- ALL-CONTRIBUTORS-LIST:END -->
diff --git a/db/README.md b/db/README.md
index 288ab262..e8676ad7 100644
--- a/db/README.md
+++ b/db/README.md
@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@
 ## Prerequisites
 
 ## Linux
+
 * docker needs to be installed
 * sqlcmd needs to be installed e.g. ``yay -Sy mssql-tools``
 
 ### Mac OS X
+
 * docker needs to be installed
 * sqlcmd needs to be installed see [mssql-tools](https://ports.macports.org/port/mssql-tools/)
 
@@ -21,9 +23,10 @@
 [1] Assumes appropriate license for Redgate SQLCompare
 
 These scripts use the following files:
+
 * ``~/.database`` - file containing properties for talking to mssql
 
-```
+```text
 SERVER=localhost
 USER=sa
 PASSWORD=NotTellingYou!
@@ -33,9 +36,10 @@ Note: if SERVER is set as localhost then the local docker instance will be used
 
 * ``Repo/.database`` => file containing the DatabaseName for synchronising
 
-```
+```text
 DB=MyDatabaseName
 ```
+
 ### Common Command line parameters
 
 * ``--server servername`` - overrides the server name in ~/.database
@@ -51,21 +55,27 @@ DB=MyDatabaseName
 * Uses ~/.database to set get the connection details for the database
 
 Usage:
+
 ```bash
 ./install-mssql --data /home/mssql
 ```
 
 ### ``createmssqldb``
+
 * Creates a named database reading ``Repo/.database`` for DB name and ``~/.database`` for connection details
 
 ### ``updatedb``
+
 * Updates a named database reading ``Repo/.database`` for DB name and ``~/.database`` for connection details reading the db schema from ``Repo/db`` folder.
 
 ### ``extractdb``
+
 * Saves a named database reading ``Repo/.database`` for DB name and ``~/.database`` for connection details saving the db schema from ``Repo/db`` folder.
 
 Note:
+
 * this does not update the content of static data tables
 
 ### ``dbappsettings``
+
 * Creates\updates appsettings-local.json in each project with the connection string to the DB
diff --git a/development/pre-commit-check b/development/pre-commit-check
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..542cf7bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/development/pre-commit-check
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#! /bin/sh
+
+die() {
+    if [ -t 2 ]; then
+        printf '\n\033[31m✗\033[0m %s\n' "$*" >&2
+    else
+        printf '\n✗ %s\n' "$*" >&2
+    fi
+    exit 1
+}
+
+success() {
+    if [ -t 1 ]; then
+        printf '\n\033[32m✓\033[0m %s\n' "$*"
+    else
+        printf '\n✓ %s\n' "$*"
+    fi
+}
+
+info() {
+    if [ -t 1 ]; then
+        printf '\n\033[32m→\033[0m %s\n' "$*"
+    else
+        printf '\n→ %s\n' "$*"
+    fi
+}
+
+# Same check at every level: does <hooks-folder>/pre-commit exist and is it
+# executable? Tried in order: repo's own hooks folder, system, global.
+hook_in() {
+    [ -n "$1" ] && [ -x "$1/pre-commit" ] && printf '%s/pre-commit\n' "$1"
+}
+
+GIT_DIR=$(git rev-parse --absolute-git-dir 2>/dev/null)
+REPO_HOOKS_DIR=""
+[ -n "$GIT_DIR" ] && REPO_HOOKS_DIR="$GIT_DIR/hooks"
+HOOK=$(hook_in "$REPO_HOOKS_DIR")
+
+[ -n "$HOOK" ] || HOOK=$(hook_in "$(git config --system --get core.hooksPath 2>/dev/null)")
+[ -n "$HOOK" ] || HOOK=$(hook_in "$(git config --global --get core.hooksPath 2>/dev/null)")
+
+[ -n "$HOOK" ] || die "No pre-commit hook found in the repo's hooks folder, system hooksPath, or global hooksPath"
+
+info "Running $HOOK --all-files"
+"$HOOK" --all-files || die "pre-commit hook failed"
+success "Pre-commit checks passed"