TYNEDALE’S economy is set to benefit when the world’s greatest cyclists pedal through the district on September 10.

That’s the verdict of Northumberland County Council’s communications and branding manager Gareth Davies, who is keen to help local communities make the most of the eagerly-anticipated Tour of Britain.

Household names such as Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish will pass through Prudhoe, Stocksfield, Riding Mill, Hexham, Haydon Bridge, and into the Haltwhistle district, at Gilsland and Greenhead, en route to the finish of the stage at Hartside Pass.

At Haltwhistle Town Council, Mr Davies said: “This really is an opportunity for every community to express itself in whatever way it wants to.

“It will attract a lot of interest and I’m sure that local bed and breakfasts, shops, pubs and other services will benefit from visitors coming into the district.

“We hope it will inspire more people to take up cycling, and promote the existing cycle events we have here, such as the Haydon Hundred, which has been a tremendous success in recent years.”

Mr Davies admitted that Northumberland doesn’t have anywhere near the marketing budget offered to Yorkshire last year when it hosted a stage of the Tour de France.

But with financial contributions from Active Northumberland, Northumbrian Water and other organisations, including Prudhoe Town Council, he believes community spirit will be worth its weight in gold.

“Yorkshire had £18m to promote the Tour de France”, said Mr Davies.

“We don’t have that, and the Tour of Britain doesn’t yet have the same worldwide appeal as that event.

“However, it is growing, and we feel as though our communities can give the cyclists a warm Northumbrian welcome, and we are very confident it will be successful here.”

Chairing the meeting, Coun. Alan Sharp said: “There will be a lot of spectators and we want to make sure the verges are tidy and all grassed areas are cut.

“I’m conscious that we will have many people standing on the verges.

“From a commercial point of view, we need to do everything we can to bring people into Haltwhistle.

“We want B&Bs and other businesses to benefit from this great event on our doorstep.”

As previously reported in the Courant, the county council is asking residents to donate unwanted bikes, or decorate them in the county colours of red and yellow, to act as display bikes.