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 that it will not stage the rally in May 2015.

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.

"The rally is of significant importance to the Borders and we have reiterated our support for the event, and will provide every assistance we can to ensure that the rally takes place in the future.

"The possibility of delaying the event to later in the year has been discussed and is being explored by the rally organisers."

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.

Ms Logan added: "A vital part of planning an annual event is a debrief on the previous year's event. This is all the more important given the circumstances surrounding this year's rally.

"However, such a debrief simply cannot take place, and will not be allowed to take place by the investigators until their work is completed, which may not be until well into next year.

"The deaths of three spectators at this year's rally were a tragedy that hit all those associated with the Jim Clark Rally and the wider Borders community very hard. The safety of the public at future events is of paramount importance to us all."

The rally is named after Scottish Formula One driver Jim Clark, who grew up in the Borders and was killed in a motor racing accident in Hockenheim, Germany, in 1968.

It is a popular annual event and is said to be worth around £3.5 million to the local economy.

Superintendent Angus MacInnes said: "Police Scotland has been actively involved in discussions with our partners including Scottish Borders Council around the planning for the May 2015 rally. Having provided advice as part of those discussions, we support the decision made by the local authority and believe it to be the only sensible course of action.

"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."

The three deaths were the latest in a series of rally accidents across the country, prompting the Government to launch a safety review. Motor racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart is part of the commission which is expected to complete its work by the end of the year.