Somerset hoping to bring Tour of Britain to West Country

Somerset County Council is leading a push for sponsors to help bring the 2007 Tour of Britain road race to the county.

The council has expressed its commitment to securing a £150,000 contract from the race organisers to enable the county to plan a route, and is working to harness sponsorship and investment from private businesses and district councils.

A consultation has been set up with local businesses with a view to offering a range of promotional and sponsorship opportunities, and the council has put in a bid with the South West Regional Development Agency to help subsidise the event.

Several districts have already expressed an interest in hosting the start and finish of the stage, which normally attract thousands of spectators.

The 2007 Tour of Britain will be held at the end of August, just weeks after the Tour de France makes its first return to British shores since 1994.

London will host the Grand Depart of the 2007 Tour, with a prologue time trial, and will host the start of the first full stage, which will run through Kent.