Sun shines as crowds flock to Shrewsbury Cycle Grand Prix 2016

Last year 150 riders took part and organisers have high hopes for today's event, with world champion Sebastian Mora Vedri leading a stellar line-up in the highlight men's elite race.

But it's not just about the stars, with the the first of seven races starting with under-10/12-year-olds at noon and going up through the age groups to the men's and women's elite events.

The exciting town centre course remains unchanged and from 11am people were able to ride around the closed circuit for 45 minutes ahead of the opening race.

And The Square is full of stalls for spectators and cyclists to browse throughout the day.

Chris Pook, co-organiser of the event, which is now in its third year, said he was looking forward to welcoming people from all over the country.

"We've got kids coming from as far away as Devizes, Buckinghamshire, Oxford, Cwmbran, so it's fantastic," said Pook.

"We have a PA system around the circuit and we'll have a professional commentator calling the races."

"It's pretty amazing for the town to have had the National Cyclo-cross Championships event and now this event which is a national criterium racing event. It's really good and it showcases Shrewsbury and the best it has to offer.

"We've got people riding here from two and a half, three hours away. A lot of these people will not have been to Shrewsbury before, so from a tourism point of view it can only be a good thing."

The elite men's race takes place at 5pm, led by Spanish Team Raleigh GAC star Sebastian Mora Vedri, who took gold in the men's scratch race final at London's Track Cycling World Championships just two months ago.

Vedri will battle it out with the likes of Shrewsbury-based pro Liam Holohan, who rides for Team Wiggins, at an event boasting a £3,000 prize fund.