A bike race in Surrey has been targeted by saboteurs sprinkling drawing pins on the course for the second year running.

The drawing pins were scattered on the route of the Redhill Cycling Club 70th Anniversary Road Race on Saturday afternoon while the event was in progress.

One rider who punctured stopped and warned other riders of the hazard on Blanks Lane, around 1 kilometre from the circuit’s finish line.

He then picked up the pins as the race continued, putting himself at risk according to organisers, who have notified Surrey Police.

Drawing pins in tyre at Redhill CC race (picture courtesy Adrian Webb)

Adrian Webb, the club’s chairman, told road.cc: "For the second time in two years, at the same race, same venue, someone has decided that perhaps a minute of inconvenience is worth putting riders at the risk of serious injury.

“Redhill CC has held this race for 70 years now and in most of those years, local residents would have been out to cheer those competing locally.

“Today when cycling is a sport in which Britain is truly great, it's a crushing shame that drivers are unwilling to share the road on which racers have police permission to compete," he added.

There have been a number of such incidents at sportives and races across the UK in recent years, with at least two riders injured while taking part in Velothon Wales earlier this month when tacks were placed on the road in two separate locations.