MIDDLEWICH could be in line to welcome back the likes cycling greats Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish next summer.

It's all part of a plan currently being hatched by Cheshire East Council to bring the cycling's premier UK event the Tour of Britain, back to the the area in 2018.

A meeting of the Cheshire East's cabinet member last week approved a proposal to make a bid aimed at bringing the Tour of Britain back to Cheshire in 2018

In a report prepared for the meeting, it claimed that the previous stage 3, in 2016, which started at Congleton and finished at Knutsford's Tatton Park, had cost the local authority £397,100 which was offset against £129,721 in sponsorship and the generation of £3.5m into the local economy. The stage was won by team Sky's Ian Stannard

It also helped attract 300,000 spectators along the route and the stage was watched by 1.23m TV viewers on ITV4.

The move has been welcomed by Councillor Michael Parsons, who missed the Stage 3 event back in 2016 because it clashed with his holidays.

Cllr Parsons said: "I couldn't really give you an opinion on the 2016 race because I was away on holiday but I am 100 per cent in favour of cycling and I was miffed that I missed it. I have only heard positive responses from local businesses and residents to the event.

"Anybody or any event that supports Middlewich and put us on the map and at the same time benefits the local community as a whole is very welcome here.

"Equally any council initiative to bring the tour back in 2018 helps bring in tourism which helps benefit the whole of Cheshire and I welcome the latest bid."

The meeting heard that based on the 2016 event a gross budget of £430,000 is anticipated, requiring net funding by the local authority of £300,000