Top cycle race 'boost to county'

The country's biggest cycle race will come to Norfolk next year for the first time, the county council has announced.

The exact route of the Tour of Britain is yet to be decided but it is expected to cover at least 100 miles in Norfolk.

Council bosses hope the event will generate at least £1.5m of additional revenue in the county.

County council leader Daniel Cox said: "This is likely to be the biggest sporting event ever to be held here and the potential benefit is huge."

Hugh Roberts, Tour of Britain's chief executive, said he was confident that the stage would be challenging for the riders and exciting for the spectators.

Mr Cox added: "When dreaming up a challenging cycle route for top athletes, Norfolk's landscape wouldn't perhaps immediately spring to mind to those who don't know our county.

"We have a fantastic range of locations and scenery comprising fens, broads, forests and miles and miles of beautiful coastline, cities and market towns."