THE leader of Worcester City Council has issued a fundraising rallying call over the Men's Tour of Britain - urging businesses to cough up the dosh.

As the Worcester News revealed yesterday, the city will stage the final day of the big event next year after agreeing to become an £80,000 sponsor.

But rather than lumber taxpayers with the entire bill, council chiefs want other organisations to get involved and pick up some of the tab.

At the moment councils in Worcester, Malvern and Wychavon have agreed to stump up £35,000, with another £45,000 needed to bridge the gap.

The city council has agreed to underwrite the full amount to protect Worcester's stake in the event, but is hoping the rest of the cost will not fall on the public purse.

In 2014 the Men's Tour of Britain started in Worcester, proving a near-£1 million boost to the economy as 75,000 people piled in to watch.

The route for the Worcestershire leg of the 2017 event, in September next year, will start in Worcester and then proceed through various county locations depending on which organisations are prepared to stump up the cash.

Labour Councillor Adrian Gregson, the city's leader, said: "I want to encourage businesses and other organisations around our city to back our bid to bring this fantastic international event to Worcester.

"The Men’s Tour of Britain is the country’s biggest free-to-spectate sporting event - hosting a stage of it in Worcester will put our city on the national and international sporting maps.

"The city council is committed to making Worcester both a prosperous city and a healthy and active one, and having part of the Tour of Britain starting here in 2017 will give a major boost to achieving those aims.

"When the tour was last here in 2014 75,000 people visited our city to watch it, spending over £1 million here and around the county, so there’s a clear boost to our economy.

"Having some of the world’s top cyclists riding through our streets and countryside is an inspiring sight, which I’m sure will encourage many of our residents to start peddling."

Private firms or other organisations wanting to help contribute are being asked to email helen.mole@worcester.gov.uk.