ORGANISERS of Ringwood's internationally renowned bi-ennial British Pedal Car Grand Prix are to go ahead with plans to copyright the name.

New Milton plans to launch its own pedal car race next year, but according to race officials from Ringwood it had hoped to share the name and co-host the popular event on alternate years.

The British Pedal Car Grand Prix committee has backed New Milton's plans and has offered to lend its expertise, but felt it was important to seek the copyright to avoid confusion and preserve its unique link with Ringwood.

The Ringwood race's director Cliff Polton said: "We wanted to safeguard the race as a Ringwood event. Any help we can give New Milton we will, but we think it is much better for the town if it organises its own race."

Ringwood Town Council's Policy and Resources Committee has now agreed to back the plan to seek the copyright.

But New Milton's race director Conrad Curtis accepted that after 18 years of running the British Pedal Car Grand Prix it would be unfair for anyone else except Ringwood to use the name.

"We're very keen to run the race and in fact 11 of the cars that entered this year's British Pedal Car Grand Prix were from New Milton," he said.

"I have no problem at all if they want to copyright the name. After everything they have put in I think it's only fair that they should retain the name, and to be honest it would be nice to push the name of New Milton."

The race has grown from strength to strength since it started 18 years ago and is often featured on news reports around the world.