HOPES are high the Tour of Britain cycle race could be brought back again after delivering a record £10.8m economic boost to Cumbria.

Official figures for the two-stage event in September, show that the impact was bigger than ever before with 240,000 spectators.

Mark Brierley, the authority’s lead officer for the Tour of Britain, told a council meeting: “This was the biggest one we have had in terms of economic impact.

“The most likely reason for that is because we had a Friday involved. In the past, we have had Mondays, Tuesdays and midweek.

“Having a weekend involved and giving people the opportunity to make a weekend of it, has made a real difference.”

Mr Brierley said Cumbria County Council spent around £220,000 on the event while the wider cost to the county was around £300,000.

He said 38 per cent of the 240,000 spectators spent at least one night in Cumbria – spending money on accommodation, food and other services.

Councillors on South Lakeland Local Committee praised the return on investment.

Chairman Nick Cotton said the competitors enjoyed the Cumbria leg of the race.

He added that he hoped Cumbria was regularly a fixture in future and wondered what the county needed to do to always be involved in the tour.

Mr Brierley said the county had “a very good” working relationship with the organisers.

He added: “We also have the thing they are always looking for – hills and spectators. The support they get in Cumbria is probably some of the best they get in the country.”

This year was the first time an English county has held two days of the event.

The opening stage started in Cockermouth and ended at Whinlatter.

The second stage was held between Barrow and Whinlatter Forest near Keswick.

Cyclists raced along a route that took in places including Seaton, Workington and Keswick en-route to a dramatic finish.

Mr Brierley said more than 500 council staff, police and volunteers helped to make it happen.

The economic benefit represented a £5m increase economic benefit the county enjoyed when it last hosted the Tour of Britain in 2016.

Accommodation providers, retailers and transport operators were among many Cumbrian businesses to reap the benefits of the race, according to independently compiled analysis.

The two stages attracting a combined total of 240,000 spectators to the county.

In addition, a total of 1.5 million viewers watched television coverage on ITV4. Highlights were showed in other countries also.