Fresh calls for stricter regulation of mountain bike races have been ignited at an inquest following the 2014 death of a North East woman. 

Judith Garrett, 29, from Whitley Bay, was killed after being struck by a rider at the 2014 downhill mountain bike race in Llangollen, Denbighshire. She was watching her boyfriend, Peter Walton, compete. 

Ms Garrett sustained a major traumatic head injury during the collision with a moving mountain bike on August 31 in 2014, which caused her death at Royal Stoke University Hospital the next day. 

This week, in an ongoing inquest, there have been fresh calls for stricter regulations at downhill bike races, such as more apparent signage for where spectators can and cannot safely stand around the course. The British Cycling Federation said changes have already been made, with further measures "under consideration."

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This week, Peter Walton, an experienced downhill racer and Ms Garrett's former boyfriend, told the pre-inquest hearing that he thought "spectator safety should be more of a priority."

"Downhill racing is dangerous - to the rider - and tracks should be challenging, but people watching shouldn't be hit by bikes.

"In my opinion, the part of the track in Llangollen in 2014 where Jude was standing was a high-risk area.

"I've had experience of that area being taped off in the past.

"But that weekend in 2014, there were a number of people standing there, but none were asked to leave."

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Appeals from coroners, as well as Ms Garrett's family and friends, have been heard at previous inquests but race organiser Michael Marsden and the British Cycling Federation, the sport's governing body, were cleared of health and safety charges in 2018. 

Additionally, last week, race marshal Kevin Duckworth was found not guilty of failing to take reasonable care to ensure the health and safety of others.

Coroner John Gittins told the hearing that he wanted stricter race regulations enforced by British Cycling. In particular, Mr Gittins wants better signage to indicate safe areas for spectators to stand. 

Nigel Cowell-Clark, the risk manager for British Cycling, told the inquest that changes had been made in the way downhill races are organised and that there have been no incidences of out-of-control cyclists hitting spectators since Ms Garrett's death in 2014.

Mr Cowell-Clark added: "In 2014, the commissaire in charge of the Llangollen course had been unable to walk the track.

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"Now, the commissaire must physically inspect the course and sign it off - if they don't; it doesn't run."

However, Mr Cowell-Clark admitted that other changes, such as more prominent signs for spectator exclusion zones, were still under consideration. 

The coroner replied: "The reality is that this remains an area of concern for me, and if I hear that British Cycling's decision is to do nothing, then I will be issuing a formal notice of concern."

These calls come as transport chiefs have unveiled plans to deliver £500 million with of improvement sot walking and cycling routes across the North East, which could see safer cycle paths across the region.