A CAR rally event in which three spectators were knocked down and killed earlier this year has been postponed for 2015 while investigations continue.

Iain Provan, 64, Elizabeth Allan, 63 and Len Stern, 71, were killed when a car came off the road at the Jim Clark Rally in the Scottish Borders on May 31.

Planning cannot begin while investigations into the deaths continue and Scottish Borders Council has announced.

The rally, which is organised by the Association of North East and Cumbria Car Clubs’ (ANECCC), will not be staged next year.

Police said the move is "the only sensible course of action", while council chief executive Tracey Logan said the decision was not taken lightly.

"We have made every effort and explored a wide range of options to overcome a number of issues but have regrettably concluded that we are not in a position to commence planning the event," Ms Logan said.

"Scottish Borders Council and Police Scotland have met with the organisers of the Jim Clark Memorial Rally and discussed the situation with them."

A safety review was commissioned by the Scottish Government in the wake of the deaths and initial proposals recommended appointing independent safety delegates and a safety car for multi-venue stage rallies.

Superintendent Angus MacInnes said: "Investigations into the tragic events of the 2014 rally are still ongoing and these would need to be concluded before detailed planning for the 2015 event could begin to allow all parties to have a clear understanding of the full circumstances of the incident."

Motor racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart is part of the commission which is expected to complete its work by the end of the year.