IF you see something strange hanging from the trees in Colne don’t be alarmed – it’s just the town getting ready for the Aviva Tour of Britain.

With less than three weeks to go, Colne in Bloom has come up with a ‘bespoke’ way to celebrate the event, by placing donated bikes sprayed painted red, white and blue all over the town centre.

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Colne will see the climax of the tour’s second stage on Monday, September 7, when some of Europe’s top riders will race past thousands of spectators in their bid to be crowned stage winner.

The secondhand-bikes have been fastened to railings and lampposts as well as being placed in trees as part of the scheme which has been backed by Colne Town Council and Pendle Borough Council.

Lancashire County Councillor Dorothy Lord, who chairs Colne in Bloom, said: “As a group we were very keen to get involved in as many local events as possible and this is such a big one.

“People were very generous in donating old bikes to us and it’s thanks to them that we have been able to do this.

“We have been given so much support from Pendle Council and the public have seemed to really get behind this and are commenting all the time on how nice it is to have the bikes in the town.

“It’s a shame that on Wednesday night the one outside the town hall was stolen, ridden down the road and chucked into the river.

“A passer-by saw what happened and managed to fish it out and return it to us which is amazing really.”

The race will take place in the Ribble Valley and Pendle and is being hosted jointly by the two borough councils.

Stage Two features climbs at the Nick o’ Pendle dropping down into Sabden which is followed by a climb up Stoney Bank Road in Earby and finally in Barley heading towards Downham.

The first of the sprint stage is in Salesbury in Ribchester Road, followed by Skipton Road in Barnoldswick and finally Chatburn Road, Clitheroe.

A Pendle Council spokeswoman said: “We would also encourage other residents and business owners to decorate their front gardens and shop fronts to celebrate the tour coming to the area.”