A KENT city is set to make a formal bid to host Le Tour de France again in four years' time.

The years 2011 and 2013 have been tentatively earmarked for Canterbury to play host again to the world's biggest annual sporting event.

If successful, the region could look forward to staging an unprecedented two-year sporting double attraction, with involvement in the 2012 London Olympics.

City council officers are studying reports of a projected £17million boost to the local economy from the part Canterbury played in the event on July 8, which was billed as a dress-rehearsal for the 2012 Games.

Two studies by Canterbury Christ Church University and Kent County Council, in conjunction with Transport for London, have been commissioned to provide a definitive appraisal of the city's involvement in Le Tour, but interim reports suggest Canterbury can bid with confidence to host the event again.

Neil McCollum, the city council's tourism manager, said: "We are very keen to stage the Tour de France again. Staging the first leg of this year’s Tour has proved that Canterbury is up to the task of hosting such a major sporting event."

Amanda Lumley, Kent's Tour de France project manager, said: "The French were blown away by our organisation of the event and there is every possibility of us doing it again."

* SEE THIS WEEK'S KENTISH GAZETTE FOR THE FULL STORY.