Tour circus hits town in "Garden of England"

By Paul Majendie

TENTERDEN (Reuters) - The Tour de France transformed the picturesque market town of Tenterden on Sunday as the cycling classic hurtled through the "Garden of England" countryside.

Thousands packed the town, some staking out their spots six hours beforehand, as the world's top cyclists sprinted down the tree-lined High Street that was festooned in Union and Tricolour flags.

Tenterden's mayor John Weller said: "The atmosphere here is very friendly. Someone opened up their front room to offer police on duty a cup of tea."

Tourist officials reckoned the worldwide television exposure from the Tour de France could be worth up to 115 million pounds for southeast England.

"In the long term it will provide publicity for the town and we will benefit," Weller said.

Tenterden's pubs were packed, clowns, drum bands and disco dancers entertained the ebullient crowds who laid out elegant picnics on the roadside.

The British, who certainly do not rank cycling up there with soccer as a national passion, enthusiastically embraced the day the Tour came to town.

"It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Tour de France and grab the freebies for my daughter as the publicity caravan comes by with all the sponsors," said spectator Nick Ferrell.