Bath's BMX track staged its most successful event to date when 249 riders from across the region contested the ninth and final round of the South West Summer Series last Sunday.

Competitors aged between four and 40 flocked to The Tumps, Chelwood Drive, Odd Down, and were looking to secure places at the British and South West championships, which both take place next month.

Organiser Steve Nippard was delighted with the turnout and believes it illustrated the growing interest in the sport in this country.

"It's a family sport – I raced on Sunday and so did my boy, who is six," said Nippard.

"We had riders coming from all over, some from the tip of Cornwall and others from Tiverton, Exeter and Bideford.

"We had 60 more than last year. The biggest round of the series this year was at the new track at Tiverton and there were 250 there. We missed out on matching that by one.

"BMX is getting bigger all the time and it's only going to keep on growing with the Olympics and BMX World Championships coming to this country in 2012."