Cheltenham Festival of Cycling has today announced fresh attractions in the build-up to the OVO Energy Tour of Britain.

Tandemonium and Gloucestershire Wheels For All will be running events and taster sessions over the summer for residents and visitors.

They will also be promoting cycling at the family fun zone in Pittville Park and Imperial Square on Saturday, 9 September when Cheltenham hosts the finish of the penultimate stage of the Tour of Britain.

Tandemonium are holding an event on Saturday, 17 June from 11am at Leisure at Cheltenham as part of National Bike Week, which starts on Monday.

This will involve a sponsored indoor cycle ride on spin bikes by visually impaired members of Tandemonium.

In the run-up to Cheltenham's cycling festival, Gloucestershire Wheels For All will host taster sessions at the Prince of Wales Stadium on Monday, 10 July and Friday, 25 August, at the invitation of the Cheltenham Trust.

People with learning or physical disabilities and those with any physical or mental health needs are invited to go along and find out about the wide range of inclusive bikes on offer and experience cycling with their family, friends or carers.

These taster sessions and events are all gearing up towards the town's big cycling festival day on Saturday, 9 September where spectators will see 21 teams of world-class athletes race through Cheltenham to their penultimate finish line in Imperial Square.

Cllr Rowena Hay, cabinet member for finance at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: "We're delighted that Tandemonium and Gloucestershire Wheels for All are providing these sessions in the run-up to our cycling festival as well as on our main event day.

"They are providing exciting opportunities for the visually impaired and those with learning or physical disabilities to experience the thrill of cycling first hand."

Tracey Crews, director responsible for the cycling festival at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: "Inclusivity is high on our agenda and we're working to make this event as easy as possible for people with disabilities to get involved on the day.

"We'd like to urge everyone to come along and show their support, and join in the fun."