The committee behind the race held an emergency meeting on Monday evening.

And the following morning told the Border Telegraph that they weren’t for backing down.

A spokesman said: “Planning for the 2015 event is already under way, although the final format of the event has yet to be decided as the promoters are considering numerous options.

“The organising team are working with MPs, MSPs and other relevant authorities to ensure that an event worthy of the name and reputation of twice F1 World Champion Jim Clark will be staged in his home county of Berwickshire.” They organisers have already won support from several of the region’s politicians as well as almost 4,000 Facebook followers.

The spokesman added: “The huge team of volunteers behind the organisation of this event have been greatly encouraged by the amount of public support, both locally and nationally, that they have received for the event to continue.” Police and the local authority announced their joint decision on Friday to cancel the 2015 rally following the deaths of three people in May.

Iain Provan, 64, Elizabeth Allan, 63, and Len Stern, 71, all from greater Glasgow, were killed when a rally car ploughed into them near the village of Swinton.

Six others were injured, including two critically, following two accidents within two hours on the closed-road course around the Duns and Kelso areas.

A major police investigation was launched in the hours after the tragedy.

A Motor Sports Safety Review Group was also formed by the Scottish Government which is now looking into the wider issue of spectator safety at all outdoor events.

They published their initial findings in early October with early recommendations leading to better safety guidelines.

And there were strong hints at the time that the Jim Clark Memorial Rally would be allowed to continue.

A more detailed report is due to be presented at Holyrood before the end of the year.

But on Friday morning organisers of the rally were summoned to Newtown St Boswells where they were told that the 2015 event wouldn’t go ahead.

A joint statement from Police Scotland and Scottish Borders Council was issued an hour later giving their reasons.

Tracey Logan, chief executive of the council, said: “This decision is not one we have taken lightly, and it follows a significant period of discussion with Police Scotland and partners on the matter.

“We have made every effort and explored a wide range of options to overcome a number of issues but have regrettably concluded that we are not in a position to commence planning the event.

“A vital part of planning an annual event is a debrief on the previous year’s event. This is all the more important given the circumstances surrounding this year’s rally.

“The deaths of three spectators at this year’s rally were a tragedy that hit all those associated with the Jim Clark Memorial Rally and the wider Borders community very hard. The safety of the public at future events is of paramount importance to us all.

“The Jim Clark Memorial Rally is a well-loved event in the Scottish Borders’ sporting calendar, providing a £3.5 million boost to the region’s economy, and this break in the running of the event has no impact on the legislation allowing it to run in the future.” Organisers were also told that detailed organisation of the 2015 rally can’t begin until the conclusion of the ongoing police investigation into this year’s tragedy.

But no predicted time-scales have been put on the probe.

Superintendent Angus MacInnes of Police Scotland said: “Investigations into the tragic events of the 2014 rally are still ongoing and these would need to be concluded before detailed planning for the 2015 event could begin to allow all parties to have a clear understanding of the full circumstances of the incident.

“Police Scotland has been actively involved in discussions with our partners including Scottish Borders Council around the planning for the May 2015 rally.

“Having provided advice as part of those discussions, we support the decision made by the local authority and believe it to be the only sensible course of action.” Thousands of motor racing fans flock to Duns and the surrounding area every year to witness the growing number of championships and races involved in the Jim Clark Memorial Rally.

The 2015 rally will be the 45th running of the event.

And local politicians are throwing their weight behind it returning.

MP Michael Moore told the Border Telegraph: “This decision has taken everyone by surprise as the indications to date were that the rally would be allowed to proceed.

“There are serious ongoing investigations which must be allowed to conclude, but it had been suggested that, as in other cases, that was not incompatible with proceeding with the event next year.

“We need urgent clarification of the steps which will be necessary to allow this decision to be reversed and we need the full co-operation of all the authorities involved to speed decisions up.

“This rally is a significant sporting and financial event for Berwickshire. We must be able to combine appropriately thorough investigation into last year’s tragedy with proper planning for the year ahead.” MSP John Lamont MSP questioned whether there was sufficient consultation over the announcement to cancel the event. He also called for a meeting between the Lord Advocate and the race organisers to issue guidance on the planning of a 2015 event while the police enquiry is on-going.

Mr Lamont said: “The tragic deaths at the rally this year had a huge impact on the Berwickshire community and I support the efforts to prevent another accident like this occurring in the future.

“The announcement last week that the rally would not go ahead has come as a surprise, not least because I understand the organisers have found it difficult to arrange meetings between the council and the police to discuss the event.

“I have now asked the Scottish Government if they can intervene and specifically if the Crown can issue guidelines making it clear that plans for a 2015 rally can proceed without prejudicing the on-going police investigation.

“I have also requested a meeting with the Lord Advocate to discuss how this can be taken forward.” The promoters of the Jim Clark Memorial Rally plan to hold an event during the weekend of May 30/31.