COMMUNITY groups, schools, businesses and landowners along the Tour of Britain route are being encouraged to take part in a land art competition.

The Tour of Britain has launched its national land art competition for the 2022 race.

Among the eight stages of the competiton spread out over the United Kingdom, the Tour of Britain has announced its first-ever stage in Dorset.

The race will begin its seventh stage, the penultimate day of the event, in West Bay on Saturday, September 10 and will pass through Dorchester, West Lulworth and Corfe Castle, before heading inland towards Wareham, Milton Abbas and Wimborne Minster before ending in Ferndown.

The tradition of creating land art masterpieces along the route has long been the practice at the Tour of Britain, as well as other cycle races around the world.

The Tour of Britain has organised a competition to select the best piece of artwork at every edition since 2018.

Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett said: “The land art competition always brings out the creativity in the communities that we pass through.

"The entries never cease to bring a smile to our faces, and I am sure that of viewers around the world watching on TV.

“Over the past three editions we have had some wonderful entries to the competition and I am sure that the standard will be equally high this year.”

The 2022 race starts in Aberdeen city centre and finishes eight days later on the Isle of Wight.

Full details of the Tour of Britain land art competition including on how to enter can be found on the race website here.