A SOUTH Lakes town is gearing up for the start of the Tour of Britain and has pulled out all the stops to ensure the town's decorations are in keeping with the event.

The Ulverston community is displaying dozens of specially decorated bike wheels around the town to welcome what is arguably the UK's biggest cycling event to Cumbria.

The first 'Wheely Amazing Workshop', held at Ulverston Leisure Centre, saw children and adults creating differently designed wheels to display along the Tour route.

The sessions were supported by JoAnne Speight from Paper Petals and staff from the Active Communities team at the Leisure Centre.

Along with the wheels there will be a giant ‘Stan Laurel-on-a-bike’ design climbing Hoad, cycling graphics around the town and a giant TV so no-one misses a moment of the big event.

Ulverston Town Council are determined to make the most of the event and are heading up a Tour of Britain task force which includes representatives from the Business Improvement District, Ulverston Leisure Centre and the county council.

Councillor Mark Wilson of Ulverston Town Council, said: "We've had some really great responses from the community for this year's Tour of Britain.

"Sports clubs, schools and the BID have all got together to make the town look beautiful.

"There's lots of decorations all around the town and we have even more planned but we'll unveil them later on. We're pulling out all the stops for the big day.

"We also want to make this a green issue and we want to use this event to promote health and wellbeing in the town."

The 104-mile south Cumbrian stage of the Tour of Britain will kick off on Friday September 7 when the race starts from Barrow.

Riders will travel along the coast road and then through the centre of Ulverston before heading out towards Windermere, Ambleside and Keswick.

Market Street and New Market Street in Ulverston will close to traffic on the day so visitors and locals can pack out the streets to cheer on their favourite cyclists.

Ulverston Leisure Centre is appealing for donations of bicycle wheels for their next workshop which will be held on August 22 from 10am.