SEATON Festival of Cycling will receive �2,000 funding from the town council to help host a new national event.

SEATON Festival of Cycling will receive �2,000 funding from the town council to help host a new national event.

The Great Tour is a charity bicycle ride around the coastline of Great Britain in 64 days, and will start and finish in Seaton.

The group's call for support during the monthly meeting was welcomed by councillors.

Cllr Pepita Collins said: "I think it's a privilege to support them and I suggest we give them �2,000."

Cllr Bob Palacio added: "It seems to be one of the elements of positive energy coming into the town, so I support it."

Group chairman Glenn Morgan said last year's cycling festival was a success and they were hoping to make it an annual event for the town.

He said: "Due in part to last year's success, Seaton has been asked to play host to a new national cycling event called The Great Tour."

He added: "The Great Tour will be a focal point of this year's Festival and, together, these two events present the town with a fantastic chance to establish itself in the rapidly expanding cycling world - providing the town with long-term sustainable benefit from its association with the Great Tour, creating opportunities for new business and increasing tourism."

The event will start on July 3 and finish on September 4.

The festival is a community event and more than 20 organisations have been involved, including the police, local schools, Axe Valley Pedallers and Axe Valley Runners.