HUNDREDS of people came onto the streets to welcome the Tour of Britain through Northumberland this afternoon.

The tour made a long-awaited comeback this year after being postponed last year due to Covid-19  and today's event saw hundreds come out onto the streets to give the riders a warm welcome.

Today's route kicked off in Carlisle and finished at the Angel of the North in Gateshead, the riders passed through Northumberland in the afternoon. 

The winner of stage 6 of the Tour of Britain was Wout Van Aert, this is his third stage win of the 2021 tour. The race finished just after 3pm when the riders arrived at the finish line.

Derek Kennedy, Mayor of Hexham, said: "This is a great thing for the town. It brings some excitement to the town seeing some world-class cyclists coming through. For not only Hexham but the whole of Tynedale to be showcased you can see what a wonderful place it is. It's great to see people out and to see world-class sport on your own high street is just fantastic."

There are just two stages left of this years tour, the final stage will be held on September 12, 2021, when riders will race from Stonehaven to Aberdeen. 

David Birmingham, chef at Rising Cafe Hexham, on the riders coming through the town: "It's great, it brings business people coming along. And I'm a cyclist myself so it's exciting. And it brings customers into here so I think it's great for the town. Looking at the crowds, looking at the cyclists, it's brought a bit of colour to the town."

The route also went through Prudhoe, which again saw huge crowds of people coming out to support the riders. Karen Lamb said: "It's nice to see the spirit back in the town. It hasn't been like this since two years ago at Prudhoe town fair.

"It is really good that it has come as it reminds us what it used to be like."

Stage 7 of the tour kicks off tomorrow at Hawick, finishing in Edinburgh. Full coverage of the remaining tour will be broadcasted on ITV4.