SOMERSET County Council needs your help in organising one of the biggest sporting events in the South-West.

This year The Tour of Britain will be coming to Somerset for stage 2 of the event, held on September 11.

The event will see 96 top cyclists representing 16 international teams battling it out over seven days.

Stage 2 will see the competitors pedalling hard over 169km from Yeovil to Taunton via Exmoor in what has been hailed as the most difficult stage of the competition.

Volunteers are a vital part of the event and the council's Tour of Britain project team is encouraging volunteer marshals to step up to the challenge.

Over 100 volunteers are needed for each stage of the event to make sure the riders have a clear route and that enthusiastic spectators don't accidentally get in their way.

Volunteers are asked to manage the crossing points, make sure cars don't try to use closed roads and give out information to the spectators.

Registration for volunteers closes on August 30 and they must be 18 years of age or over.

To register, click on the link below.

Visit the 'volunteer' section, give your name and contact details.

Select Stage 2 - Yeovilton to Taunton (Tuesday 11 September)and The Tour of Britain in association with British Cycling will send you an information pack.

Cllr Justin Robinson, deputy leader of Somerset County Council, said: "Arrangements for the Somerset stage of the Tour of Britain have been going very well. The police, Somerset Highways and Taunton Deane Council have been working closely to make sure the county is well prepared and that this will be the best stage of the 2007 event."

The County Gazette is an official media partner of the Tour of Britain.