Co-driver killed in crash at Jim Clark Rally

A co-driver has been killed in a crash at the Jim Clark Rally in the Scottish Borders.

Dai Roberts, 39, from Carmarthen in Wales, died at the scene after emergency services were called at around 10:50.

Driver, James Williams, 27, was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

The remainder of the closed-road event, held near Duns, was cancelled along with the Reivers Rally, scheduled for Sunday.

In a team statement, James Williams Rallying said: "It is with a heavy heart, we have to share this sad news this afternoon.

"The motorsport community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our beloved Dai Roberts

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Roberts family at this difficult time."

Mr Roberts survived a previous crash at the Ulster Rally in 2014 which killed 20-year-old driver Timothy Cathcart

His brother Gareth died competing in a rally in Sicily in June 2012.

Police Scotland said that noone else was injured in the crash.

Supt Vincent Fisher said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the man who has died and inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances."

Around 260 competitors were expected to compete over the weekend.

First held in 1970, it is named after Formula One champion, Jim Clark who grew up in the Scottish Borders.

It is round of the Probite British Rally Championship, Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship and Protyre National Asphalt Championship.

In 2014, three spectators were killed and six more were injured at the event when two cars lost control and veered into a viewing area.

A fatal accident inquiry later found the deaths could have been prevented if people had been clearly banned from standing in the area where the crash happened.

The event returned five years later in 2019, after "rigorous steps" were taken to ensure safety.