CYCLE racing is making a welcome return at a town's traditional annual festival.

More than 300 cyclists have signed up to take part in events at Richmond Meet, in North Yorkshire, from May 27 to 29.

The festival was started by cyclists in 1892.

After more than a hundred years of racing, numbers dwindled and, five years ago, cycling all but disappeared from the programme.

However, this year a three-day programme of road and track racing will be held - and organisers are hoping to eventually recapture the glory days of the Meet when cycling events counted towards Olympic qualification.

In the meantime, members of Richmond Cycling Club, which was formed two years and will run the racing, are just happy that bikes are back at the Meet.

Organiser Arthur Caygill, of Arthur Caygill Cycles, in Richmond, said: "It never died totally, but it wasn't far off.

"It's fantastic that it's now back as the Meet is part of the town's history.

"It's not as big as it used to be yet, but hopefully we will get there."

Richmond Meet was launched when members of Stockton Cycle Club and other cyclists complained that Barnard Castle Meet was being dominated by clubs from Tyneside.

They decided it was time for cycling clubs from the south of the region to break away.

It was agreed at a meeting in Stockton to hold the first North Yorkshire and South Durham Cyclists' Meet, in Richmond, in 1892.

Reports said that the population of the town increased fourfold as trains brought 700 competitors and thousands of spectators from across the region.

This year's cycling will start on Saturday, May 27, with three Cyclesportive rides for different abilities over 100, 50 and 15 miles.

The longest ride will start in Richmond and cover five of the Yorkshire Dales.

The 50-mile route will cross three Dales, while the 15-mile family fun route will pass through Hudswell and Downholme.

There will also be a family off-road mountain bike event on the Saturday.

On Sunday, cycling will return to Richmond's historic grass velodrome around the cricket pitch.

Cyclists taking part in the Arthur Metcalfe Memorial Road Race will travel four times round the traditional Waithwith circuit.

.Organisers say the facility is one of the finest banked grass tracks in the country.

There are still places available in the road and track races. Visit the website www.richmond cyclingclub.co.uk for details, and for a full Meet programme, visit www.richmondmeet.co.uk