UP to 15,000 people could visit a Borders town later this year for mountain biking’s Enduro World Series final, a meeting has heard.

Coronavirus restrictions put the brakes on planned events last year, but organisers are said to be “optimistic” that the large-scale showpiece in Innerleithen will go ahead at the end of September.

Last week, the town's community council learned that 350 professional riders are expected, as well as 400 amateurs, 150 e-bike riders – which could increase – and upwards of 240 child participants.

Three committees have been set up, including a community committee that meets monthly.

Andy Weir from Ridelines mountain bike tuition is the community council’s representative.

He said: “It is going to be a very busy weekend. They are targeting 10,000 spectators so when we add all race participants, all the race teams, all the people involved in the event, they are looking at about 15,000 people descending upon Innerleithen over the course of the weekend.

“That is COVID-willing. I wouldn’t be overly confident of that at the moment.

“It’s a massive event and it’s also the last of the Enduro World Series so it’s the one that most people will want to go to.

“I think that Scotland is going to be seen to be a COVID-safe place because of the vaccination programme here, which might encourage more visitors.

“I guess what we need to do is keep an eye on those figures and an eye on the COVID situation.

“The EWS people are ambitious so I think it’s worthwhile us considering that 15,000 figure.

“How 15,000 people will fit into Innerleithen, I don’t know, so there are big challenges and big concerns.”

And it seems that this year’s event won’t be the last in Innerleithen, with organisers intimating that they hope to return annually for the next five years.

Mr Weir said: “I think looking forward, whether those numbers are reached this year or not, they are looking for the Enduro World Series to come here over a five-year programme, so I would be looking at something of this magnitude being an annual event.”

He added: “It will be good for the town to have that many people coming here and it’s a great opportunity for the town to showcase the willingness to host big events like this. I know there are a lot of infrastructure issues but it’s certainly encouraging and it will put Innerleithen on the world map because it is a world event.”

One of Scotland’s biggest cycling events, the Mountain Bike World Cup, is held in Fort William and is said to have drawn crowds of more than 25,000 spectators.

“Fort William has got a population double of Innerleithen. In terms of the magnitude it copes on an annual basis,” said Mr Weir.

Members of the community council said the sheer scale of the event will bring challenges but they also feel it will be a “great opportunity for Innerleithen to shine”.

The event will be held from September 30 to October 3.