Drivers in Helensburgh and Lomond are being urged to take extra care around cyclists.

This means giving them as much space as possible when overtaking - as much space as you would a small car.

The advice has come from Inspector Allan Kirk from Helensburgh Police Station, who said: "We want to remind drivers to watch out for pedal cyclists and give them plenty of room when overtaking and only overtake when it is completely safe to do so.”

Cyclists are also being reminded to be responsible and aware of other road users and of their position in the road.

Police Scotland is backing ‘Give Everyone Cycle Space’, a Cycling Scotland road safety awareness campaign designed to remind anyone driving how much space they should give people on bikes when overtaking.

It aims to create high levels of driver awareness around people on bikes to make Scotland’s roads more cycle friendly.

Police say the campaign is important given the rapid rise in the number of people taking up cycling for sport and recreation.

The Highway Code says that motorists “should give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car.”

Motorists should wait until there is space for them to overtake while giving the cyclist the appropriate amount of room.

They should not try to force an overtake when another car is coming so that they have to pass closer to the cyclist than the room they would normally give another car.

They should also take care when passing cyclists as well as other vulnerable road users.