BORDERS businesses and communities have been praised for being so welcoming to the UCI Cycling World Championships.

Shop window displays and decorated towns in the Tweed Valley welcomed visiting riders and spectators who were taking to Glentress Forest as part of the mountain bike cross country events.

In line with the championships a Borders-wide competition was held for businesses with the best dressed window.

And the winning window display was at Castle Warehouse in Peebles.

The business's prize is a radio advertising package worth more than £500.

Notable mentions also went to Treetop Toys, The Perfect Fit, Save the Children (Peebles), Head to Toe, and Gustaf’s Studio and Gallery for their window displays.

Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for community and business development, said: “It has been wonderful to see our communities throughout the Tweed Valley and beyond get right behind the World Championships and celebrate the Scottish Borders hosting the world’s biggest ever cycling event.

“We’re now working to quantify just what the economic impact has been of hosting the mountain bike cross-country events at Glentress, and as part of that there will be surveys of accommodation providers and businesses.

“I’d like to thank all those businesses, community groups and individuals who got involved in welcoming the Championships and the many visitors to the area for their efforts.”

Entries to the window dressing competition came from business in Galashiels, Kelso, Melrose, Peebles, and Innerleithen.