WATCH: Work gets underway on new cycle speedway track in Tweedbank

A sod-cutting ceremony has taken place to mark the start of work on a new cycle speedway track at Tweedbank.

The shale track is only the fourth of its kind in Scotland and a first for the Scottish Borders.

Built behind the bowling club at Tweedbank sports complex, the £270,000 development - which will be fully flood-lit - will become the home of The Border Raiders cycle speedway team when it's completed in March.

An area of waste ground next to the running track is set to be transformed over the coming weeks.

Before now, the team have had to train on nearby grass pitches.

WATCH: Click on the link below to view our video report...

Chairman Trevor Bryant told Greatest Hits Radio it's a growing sport.

"It's purpose built for going round as fast as possible on bikes with no brakes and no gears," he said.

But he added: "It's also going to be a multi-use short track that the community will be able to use for lots of different events - including disability riding, return to riding, learning to ride; and some of the running clubs will use it for a tiny tots running track."

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