Great British bottoms are at risk after being slapped with Brexit bureaucracy on bike saddles, it has emerged.

Brooks England, makers of hand-crafted leather bicycle saddles, have had to suspend all new orders for seats from British cyclists, despite their saddles being made at their factory in Smethwick, West Midlands.

The firm, which has been making saddles for the nation’s cyclists since 1882, has halted direct-to-consumer sales in the UK, citing Brexit as the reason.

Ongoing changes in the Brexit situation have made it necessary to temporarily suspend all new orders to the UK

In a statement, first reported by Forbes, the firm said: “Ongoing changes in the Brexit situation have made it necessary to temporarily suspend all new orders to the UK.

“We appreciate your patience while we analyse this situation and plan the proper administrative steps moving forward.”

Brooks, founded in 1866 and once owned by Raleigh of Nottingham, was bought by Italian saddle manufacturer Selle Royal in 2002.

Once each saddle is completed, they are shipped first to the firm’s logistics centre in Italy and from there to cyclists around the world.

The firm said due to this and the ongoing changes in the Brexit situation, they have had to temporarily suspend all new orders to the UK.

Brooks, which makes saddles that require riders to “break” them in, has thanked customers for their patience and will notify them when shipping to the UK resumes.