The Cycle Tour of Britain brought in £3.5m to the borough.

The race, which hit the highways of Cheshire East in September, has been hailed a great success, with 300,000 spectators lining the route.

David Brown, deputy council leader, said: “This has been a truly fantastic event and our faith in the residents and businesses of Cheshire East, in the support they gave to the event, has been thoroughly rewarded.

“We have answered our critics who said we should not have been doing this. The legacy value of the race – both economically and in terms of other outcomes – is without precedent in this borough.

“To stage an event on this scale – involving our Olympian cyclists, with 1.23million television viewers and the huge profile and prestige this has brought to Cheshire East – has been a great triumph for the council, the Tour of Britain and, most of all, our residents and businesses.”

The event, in which Cheshire East invested £267,000, generated a return of £3.5m and boosted visitor income to an estimated £5.45m, and has contributed to significant community engagement around cycling and healthy lifestyle.

A grant of £350,000 from the Department of Transport will now be used to support future walking and cycling initiatives and promote healthy lifestyles.

The UK’s biggest annual free-to-attend sporting event is followed by more than 1.62 million spectators across the eight days of stages across Britain. Data gathered for Cheshire East show that:

· 300,000 spectators watched the stage – equal to London

· 63 per cent of spectators were from outside Cheshire East

· The stage generated £5.45m of gross economic activity for UK

· Net economic benefit direct to Cheshire East was £3.5m

· 59 per cent of spectators inspired to cycle more often

· 93 per cent recognition of Cheshire East Council as Stage sponsor

· 7.63m viewers watched the Tour of Britain on ITV4 (live and highlights)

· 1.23m viewers for Stage 3 on ITV4 (2nd highest stage viewing figure)

· Exceptional volunteering engagement throughout the borough

Cheshire East Council invested more than £267,000 to attract this national event, generate £3.5m in economic impact for the borough’s economy and provide a real opportunity for the communities of the area. Through its Skills and Growth Company, the event secured sponsorship packages totalling more than £100,000 with support from more than 20 businesses – the highest level of sponsorship for any stage of the tour.

Sixty-three per cent of spectators travelled from outside the borough and the race, which featured seven Olympic cyclists including Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, has put Cheshire East firmly on the map as a visitor destination.

The full report can be viewed at cheshiretourofbritain.co.uk/on-the-day/post-race.