WHITEHAVEN’S harbour is enjoying a spruce up as it prepares to welcome hundreds of cyclists taking part in a coast to coast challenge.

Whitehaven Town Council has worked alongside the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners to make sure the site looks its finest for the event.

The project has involved the addition of beautiful hanging baskets, funded by Whitehaven Town Council, as well as a general clean up of all areas.

Now, final preparations are underway before those taking part in the challenge arrive for what will be the first major gathering at the harbour since lockdown measures eased.

John Baker, chief executive of the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming the cyclists for the start of the event.

“Whitehaven Harbour really will be in focus on the day, particularly given it will be the first large event held here since lockdown, and we want it to look its very best.

“We are hugely grateful to the town council for their generous support - the hanging baskets look fantastic placed around the harbour - and a lot of hard work has gone into making sure everything is ready.

“All we need now is for great weather on the day and we can all look forward to enjoying a super atmosphere.”

Whitehaven Harbour regularly hosts events that draw the community together while also attracting a steady stream of visitors to the area.

The coast to coast challenge is run by adventure events company, Rat Race, and is called The Crossing.

It begins at Whitehaven Harbour before participants embark upon a 200 mile, three-day journey across the northern fells of Cumbria, through the Yorkshire Dales and skirting past the North York Moors before finishing just north of Scarborough.

As the official starting point of the route, the riders congregate in Whitehaven to enjoy the unique sights, sounds and surroundings of the harbour before setting off.

Jim Mee the MD of Rat Race said: “It is fantastic to be out and about doing events again and we cannot wait to see our #ratracers take on this epic crossing of the country by pedal power.

“Many of them have been waiting nearly two years to take on The Crossing and we sincerely thank each and every one of them for sticking with us through the pandemic.

“We wish all the participants the best of luck in their three-day adventure and we hope they are as excited as we are to be lined up once again on the Whitehaven Harbour, a fantastic backdrop for this stunning journey."