A new era for cycling in Carlisle has begun.

Sunday marked the official opening of the £1m Harraby Cycle Circuit, a facility which enthusiasts hope will encourage the next generation of sporting superstars.

The outdoor facility boasts a 1km long, 6m wide, traffic-free tarmac circuit for cyclists of all ages and abilities.

Cyclists have been able to use the circuit for a few months but it was officially opened to the public with children's events and adult races. To coincide with the opening there was live music and a fun fair.

The project was led by Carlisle City Council who provided funding along with Cumbria County Council and community group Harraby Together We Can. The largest chunk of funding, however, came from British Cycling who contributed in the region of £650,000 towards the project.

Now officially open, it provides the city with a top class sporting facility which will be heavily used by the area's cycling clubs.

The circuit is also being billed as the perfect place to take youngsters out cycling in a safe environment.

Representatives of local clubs were in attendance as well as various council officials.

David Rawle, one of the Go Ride junior coaches at Border City Wheelers, said having the circuit will be a big boost for the sport.

"I have been with the Wheelers since 1990 and it's something we asked about then," he said.

"As a cycling club we have been asking for something like this for 28 years. Now we've finally got it it's fantastic."

The club had been forced to use other sites such as car parks to run events in the past.

"Having this circuit will allow us to do more and do what we have previously done better," Mr Rawle added.

Paul Musgrave, Cumbria County Council's area manager for the communities team in Carlisle, said: "We are trying to encourage people to stay fit and get as healthy as they can and this is just a really good example of where we can use and event like the Tour of Britain and the branding to try and inspire kids to get into cycling, maybe even get seriously into it.

"It's been open for a few weeks now, the clubs are certainly using it well, and we just want people to use it."

Re Barnard, of Cotehill, near Carlisle, takes her children Max, Megan and Keira along to the junior section of Border City Wheelers.

"It's absolutely brilliant," she said.

"We are going all the way out to Watchtree originally which is a good half an hour, 40 minutes drive for us. When it was dark there was nowhere for the kids to go so it's been brilliant to have this.

"It's safe, it's lit up and there's first aid cover."