Organisers of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain have called on Nottinghamshire to bowl them over with eye-catching land and water art alongside the route of this year’s event.

For the first time, it is holding a competition to find the best piece of land art.

Community groups, schools, businesses and land owners have been encouraged to take part in the competition, which was launched at Trent Bridge cricket ground, West Bridgford.

Last year’s race saw a much-talked about sheep creation by Coddington farmer Des Allen.

Coun Mick Barton, deputy mayor of Mansfield, said: “We hope residents and businesses along the five-mile route through Mansfield district will get creative and produce land art that can be seen from the sky.

“We want to encourage anything that will help us showcase the best of Mansfield, not only to the thousands of visitors expected on the day but also to the millions watching on television around the world.”

To find out more and how to register planned land art, go to www.tourofbritain.co.uk/land-art

Pictured at the competition launch are, from left, ToBi, Tour of Britain mascot; Aaron Simms, Mansfield District Council Tour of Britain project manager; Coun Mick Barton, deputy mayor of Mansfield; Hayley Barsby, chief executive of the council; Mike Robinson, director of economic growth; and Nuts the Squirrel, Nottinghamshire CCC mascot.