YOUNG people in Stirling will have the chance to create banners and flags for an upcoming major cycling event with free summer art workshops.

The art workshops will be held in communities along the route for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships as the build up for the event gains momentum.

Stirling will stage the Individual Time Trials from August 9 to August 11 with young people given the opportunity to design banners and signs to wave as the world’s best cyclists pass by during three days of thrilling racing.

Council leader Chris Kane said: “This is going to be the biggest sporting event in Stirling’s history and it’s incredibly exciting that we’re just over a month away until the action gets underway on August 9.

“These free workshops will be a great opportunity for our young people to learn about the races passing through their communities in a fun and creative environment.

“By hosting these world-class events we want to encourage more people of all ages to take up cycling and get more active and it would be fantastic to see Stirling’s children and young people lining the routes in August to get inspired by the power of the bike.”

The drop-in workshops are open to children aged 5-14 and will be supported by artists from Creative Stirling and GOSSIP Collective, with some part of the council’s Play in the Park events.

There will be a workshop in Fintry on July 12 as part of the Play in the Park event that is being held at Fintry Sports Club Grounds from 11am to 3pm.

Cambusbarron will be next from July 17, at the same times, in the King George Play Area.

Kippen will follow on July 26 from 10am to 12noon at Kippen Reading Rooms.

Gragunnock Community Centre will also host a workshop on the same day, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

The workshops will move to Raploch Community Campus on July 27 from 10am to 12noon and thereafter to the Tolbooth Attic from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

Again as part of Play in the Park, there will be a workshop at Thornhill Play Area on August 4 from 11am to 3pm.

Covering up to 48km of roads, the Individual Time Trials will see riders set off from the King’s Knot in the shadow of Stirling Castle, before heading out west into the countryside and looping back into Stirling’s historic city centre, with a sprint through the city to the finish on the castle esplanade.

Allan’s Primary is based in the heart of Stirling’s historic city centre with riders passing the school on their way to the sprint finish at the castle.

Lindsey Howland, headteacher at Allan’s PS, said: “We are delighted that our school will feature in the final sprint finish to the castle which will share the heart of Stirling to audiences across the world.

“Cycling is a firm favourite in our school as we continue to promote and develop our children’s love of cycling through the Bikeability and Play on Pedals initiatives and the children are really excited about the events coming to Stirling in August.”

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times at the banner making workshops.