Mountain bikers are taking to the Peeblesshire hills this weekend as the Tweedlove Festival takes to the trees and tracks above Innerleithen.

The wheels will be kept in full flow thanks to an ample provision of drinking water, courtesy of Scottish Water’s Innerleithen Water Treatment Works project.

Investment of £3.3 million at the Innerleithen Water Treatment Works (WTW) will deliver long-term benefits not only for the local community, but also for the thousands of visitors getting on their bike and flocking to Peebleshire, leading this tourism revolution.

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Malcolm Miller, Construction Manager for Solutions, the joint venture partnership between Scottish Water and some of the world’s leading construction, engineering and water companies, said: “Our £3.3 million investment will see the relocation of the Innerleithen water treatment works to a more strategic location. This investment will also help to significantly improve the security of the supply to this community, which is one of the many long-term benefits.”

Up to 6,000 mountain bike and cycling enthusiasts will make the pilgrimage to the Tweed Valley for the week long festival of biking.

And, Tweedlove organiser Neil Dalgleish is welcoming Scottish Water’s investment as he outlines the importance of hydration for the riders tackling the trails and tracks: "Staying hydrated is possibly the number one priority during a bike race like the Glentress Seven - or any of the other TweedLove bike events. It's so easy to become dehydrated when you're putting in so much physical effort. You soon notice the difference in your performance and how well your head is working too."

(GK)