First Jim Clark rally since three killed at 2014 event

Elizabeth Allan died along with Len Stern and Iain Provan.

The Jim Clark rally has been held in the Borders for the first time since three people were killed at last year's event.

Iain Provan, 64, Elizabeth Allan, 63, and Len Stern, 71, died in a crash at a stage of the rally near Coldstream.

The event is normally held on closed public roads in Berwickshire.

However this year the Jim Clark Reivers Rally took place on tracks in Kielder Forest in Northumberland, after starting in Kelso.

Scottish Borders Council withdrew permission for the event to take place on public roads while investigations by Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive are under way.

A nationwide review of the sport by a group set up by the Scottish government made a series of recommendations earlier this year.

They include:

• Tighter control over volunteer marshals including the introduction of a mandatory marshal licensing scheme, requiring marshals to obtain a licence following mandatory training and experience.

• Input from Police Scotland including, where appropriate, police supporting implementation of the safety plan, a liaison officer attending rallies and training support at a national level.

• Improving safety of the media through better management of press attendance at rallies, including a press accreditation scheme.

• Ground rules drawn up for spectators, marshals and competitors on assisting cars back onto the road - a common practice at rallies.

• Improved communication with spectators and the recommended adoption of international standards for identifying low, medium and high risk spectator areas.

• Stricter control of marshalling numbers - a requirement for marshal numbers to be published in the safety plan and adhered to for each rally stage.

The rally started from Springwood Park in Kelso on Sunday, with the first car returning to the park for the ceremonial finish.