A British Cycling-approved marshal scheme could be used in Northumberland to help manage bike races and time trials, which are increasing in number.

A report to Monday's Castle Morpeth Local Area Council set out the rules and protocols for dealing with cycling events on the public highway.

Both Couns Richard Dodd and Veronica Jones, who represent Ponteland wards, had some concerns about the impact of events on residents and motorists in their area, which is particularly popular with cyclists and hosted the National Road Championships last summer.

However, the council's network manager Lynne Ryan said: "There's a perception that we get involved a lot more than we do, but we don't because the event organisers are responsible, not the county council or the police."

Neither the council nor the police have the power to prevent cycling events taking place on the public highway and many, such as weekly rides by clubs, do not require any involvement either.

The only time that the council will become involved is when the event is council-led or if there is a need for a temporary order to close the road for safety reasons.

When a cycling event is an official race then the event organiser is required to notify the police of their intention more than 28 days in advance, but subject to certain provisions, the time trial/race is treated as authorised once the notification is lodged.

The majority of cycling events are notified through the council's safety advisory group process with the promoter submitting an event notification form.

While the council cannot stop an event taking place, where temporary road closures or traffic management is proposed, officers will work with the organiser to ensure that any closures are appropriate and minimise disruption to the travelling public.

In 2017, there were 28 cycling events for which the council received notification and this increased to 40 last year.

In light of the ever-growing number of events, Northumbria Police has confirmed that it is seeking to approve the use of the British Cycling Accredited Marshal Scheme, which was introduced in 2013.

An accredited marshal is someone who has been trained to use a special sign to stop and hold traffic legally to allow the safe passage of a cycle race on the open highway.

The report said: 'Where it is in use, it is believed that the scheme has played a key role in enhancing event delivery standards and safety for competitors, event volunteers and all other road users.

'British Cycling believes that accredited marshals are making road races safer for everyone involved; riders, the race convoy and other road users.'

"That's something we would certainly support and like to see happen," said Ms Ryan.