The Lancashire Telegraph has been out and about getting the word on the street in the lead up to the Aviva Tour of Britain coming to East Lancashire.

David Greenlees. 71, from Foulridge, said: “I think that it's a good idea and that it will bring a lot of people into Colne.

“Cycling is a great interest for a lot of people at the moment and to have such a big race come to the area is fantastic.

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“If the weather is ok on the day that would only help to encourage people to visit Colne and maybe inspire them to come back another day as well.”

Laneshaw Bridge resident Stephanie Watson, 29, said: “”There are going to be so many people coming to the area on the day and in the days before hand as well which can only be a good thing.

“I think that it will help the local economy and could well put Colne on the map for a lot of people.

“I hope that it will make a long-term impact and mean that it makes the whole area more popular.”

Patricia Sharp, 71, Colne, said: “It is brilliant that one of the biggest races in the calendar is coming to our town.

“People from all over are going to come to the town and are going to have a great time.

“This is the sort of event that brings everybody together and will be a welcome boost for the town.”

Norris Hilton, 66, from Colne, said: “I expect that thousands of people from not only East Lancashire but also across the country will come to our town to see the race finish.

“We have the Colne Grand Prix every year but this will be on a completely different level.

“The town has the experience of managing that event every year but the Tour of Britain coming will be huge.”

Read resident Barbara Tomkinson, 75, said: “My husband Joseph is really into cycling as are the rest of the family so they are all very much looking forward to the race coming to the Ribble Valley.

“I hope that it will have a huge impact on not just Clitheroe but also through the villages that it will travel through in the borough.

“It's going to be a marvellous day for everybody.”

William Britch, 89, who lives in Clitheroe, said: “It can only be a positive thing for Clitheroe to host the stage of the race.

“I hope that it will make people more aware of the sport and also of the town.

“The race could encourage people to come and watch it here but also to come back again and again on other days.

“Anything that helps to put Clitheroe on the map has to be a good thing.”

Gorden Duport, 78, from Blackburn, said: “The Tour de France coming to Yorkshire had an impact here in Lancashire and it's great that the Tour of Britain is coming to this region this year.

“It will be a boost to the Ribble Valley and Pendle and I'm sure that a lot of people from other areas in East Lancashire including Blackburn will be looking forward to watching it in September.

“I'm sure that all of the streets will be lined with people and that it will be a good day.”

Clitheroe resident Emma Bleazard, 43, said: “I think that it's a brilliant event to have staged in Clitheroe and that it will bring in a lot of tourism to the area.

“It's the sort of event that's good for the community as well because everybody will be doing something to mark the occasion.

“These things do not come around very often and I'm sure that people will want to make the most of it.”