ORGANISERS of the Jim Clark Rally are hoping to drive into the central Borders for the very first time this year.

Since 1996 the motorsport event has been attracting many of the country's leading drivers to the closed roads of Berwickshire.

Following the tragedy in 2014, when three people were killed and others injured during the stages, a major safety review was carried out.

Revised national legislation and tighter controls were introduced by the Scottish government.

And in November cars returned to Duns for a successful scaled-back event.

Organisers are now gearing up for a full-scale return of the event this May - and they are including the central Borders in one of the stages for the very first time.

The Saturday's planned first stage will take the country's fastest rally drivers through Westruther and Earlston, skirting Leaderfoot, before heading over Bemersyde and past Scott's View on their way to Kelso, via Clintmains.

The Jim Clark Rally has already been granted a licence from the sport's governing body.

And this week a tabled application for a Motor Sport Order was considered by Scottish Borders Council.

Brian Young, the local authority's infrastructure manager, told yesterday's meeting of the ruling Executive: "The new regulations introduce increased rigor to the planning process and aims to reduce the likelihood of a repeat of the tragic events of 2014.

"As this is the first time that the Jim Clark Rally will have run outwith Berwickshire it was felt appropriate that the Executive was provided an opportunity to comment on the proposals.

"The organisers of the Jim Clark Rally will be contacting, separately, those residents who are directly impacted by the routes.

"This includes individual visits to all properties in addition to letter drops."

It is estimated that the Jim Clark Rally generates around £2.5 million for the local economy each year.

This year's event is scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31 with an additional 'shakedown stage' on the Friday afternoon around Mellerstain Mill.

Scottish Borders Council will host a consultation process, via its website and three affected Area Partnerships, ahead of a Motor Sports Order being granted.