AN official order to close roads in Worcestershire for a contentious cycling event has been invoked, despite a raft of complaints from traders and residents in Belbroughton.

Some 15,000 riders will pass through Worcestershire on Sunday September 24, for Velo Birmingham – a 100-mile closed-road charity bike ride.

A revised route to take cyclists through 40 miles of the county’s countryside was announced in July, with one local trader saying the thousands of riders will cut her village “in half”.

Another, John Cleary, licensee at Ye Olde Horse Shoe Inn in Belbroughton, said his business would be "completely cut off" and as good as closed for Sunday trading - on what is his busiest day of the week.

People elsewhere in the county said they would be trapped in their homes, yet supporters argue the event is an opportunity to promote the region’s countryside cycling routes and in fact attract business.

Despite concerns, Worcestershire County Council has said there is no process for objecting to the order making the road closures.

In a statement it said: “There is no statutory process for objecting to the proposed order.

“On 24 September 2017 there will be road closures to ensure the safety of the 15,000 anticipated cyclists and public as this major sporting event passes through the areas of Wyre Forest District Council, Malvern Hills District Council, Wychavon District Council and Bromsgrove District Council.

“The event organisers CSM have already undertaken widespread public engagement and resolved or mitigated many potential problems and accordingly the county council intends to make the proposed road closures to support the major event.

“It recognises that this will cause disruption and the county council wishes to take into account and seek to mitigate as far as practicable particular problems the event may cause.”

In the Bromsgrove district and surrounding areas, roads will be closed at various times from 8.30am to 6pm in Clent, Belbroughton, Romsley, Frankley, Upton Warren, Dodford and Chaddesley Corbett.

There are exemptions to the restrictions for emergency services, authorised event officials, safety officials, and to enable pedestrian access to homes and businesses.

Any issues that need resolving with the county council must be emailed to nrswa@worcestershire.gov.uk and copied to CSM route@velobirmingham.com.

Emails must be sent by Monday August 14, ahead of final decisions.

For a full list of road closures, visit worcestershire.gov.uk/directory/34/public_notices_directory.