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Communities in Nottinghamshire are being urged to embrace the Tour of Britain when it returns to the county in September – by taking part in our best dressed town or village challenge.

Stage five of the showpiece event will pass some of the county’s most iconic and well-known tourist attractions, sweeping countryside and dozens of towns and villages along the 116-mile route on Thursday 8 September.

Now with just over a month to go until the world-famous cycle races comes back to Robin Hood Country, Nottinghamshire County Council is on the hunt to find the ‘best dressed’ community.

The county has previously welcomed the world’s best cyclists for the 2017 and 2018 editions of the race, with 250,000 spectators lining the route four years ago helping to boost the Nottinghamshire economy by £3.9 million.

In addition to the thousands of visitors who will flock to the county for the event, a global TV audience of millions will also watch the race – putting the international spotlight on our towns and villages for the day.

Councillor John Cottee, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “The countdown to the Tour of Britain’s return to Nottinghamshire is well and truly underway and the sense of anticipation is building in our communities who will firmly embrace the spirit of the race, as they have done in previous years.

“Once again, the eyes of the world will be on our wonderful county and this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase what it has to offer.

“I cannot wait to see how this year’s route will be transformed by residents, schools, businesses and landowners in our towns and villages.

“I am sure everyone will once again rise to the challenge and make it a day to remember as we celebrate the return of some of the world’s top cyclists racing along our roads.”

In 2018, race organisers singled out Nottinghamshire for having the best fans of the whole Tour and praised communities for embracing the day by producing a spectacular sea of flags, bunting and bike displays as the event passed through the county.

Four years ago, Plumtree scooped the best dressed village accolade in Rushcliffe for its dazzling decorations – which included 200 life-sized cardboard bikes with different themes created by local schoolchildren displayed in shops, cafes, and public buildings.

Plumtree Parish Council Vice-Chairman Cllr Jonnie Richards said cycling fever is once again sweeping through the community as it prepares to welcome the race, with schools and nurseries, pubs, businesses, and the local community all coming together to decorate the village.

He said: “We were delighted to win the award and we’re all excited at the thought of going one better this year and prove that it wasn’t a one-off.

“We’ll be getting out the yellow paint and the bikes again. We’ve got some plum trees made in yellow, so they’ll be coming out and refurbished – but really the main thing is to get everyone involved in dressing the village, it’s not just about the few that head it up.

“It’s getting the people on the route to dress their houses and get the word out that the race is coming – that’s the key bit.

“We’ll be recycling the bunting and one of the big pushes last time was yellow and green and that will be the theme again – especially along Church Hill and past the Village Hall where most of the action will be.

“Youngsters from the village’s schools will also be involved to do what they can with the artwork and to highlight what the race means to them.

“It truly is a full community effort, and I can’t wait to see the village in all its glory again – it should look fantastic for those who live here and for those watching the race on television.”

To take part, all you have to do is send us no more than four photos via email to competitions@nottscc.gov.uk or by posting your photos on social media using #NottsToB. The closing date to submit your entries is Monday 12 September.

Please make sure you have permission from the owners of any buildings or land you want to decorate.

In need of inspiration? Here are a few ideas:

• Decorate the route with flags and bunting;
• Create colourful town/village/window displays;
• Get your local community group involved;
• Decorate old wheels or bikes to display;
• Create land art in your local space – the bigger the better;
• The theme doesn’t need to be bicycle related, you can showcase your district heritage, landmarks, famous people or anything you are proud of;
• Celebration of industries are also encouraged but commercial advertising will not be counted

The county council’s website has more information about the Nottinghamshire stage of the race and you can sign up for our emailme bulletin to get all the latest Tour of Britain news delivered straight to your inbox.

ENDS