People can bid for a unique bird's eye view of Cockermouth's Tour of Britain action.

Wordsworth House has reserved a table in its first-floor cafe, with views of Main Street and up Sullart Street, which will be available to the highest bidder.

Bids close at 9am next Friday , September 2, and the money raised from the auction will go towards the upkeep of the National Trust house and garden.

The house will be decked out in Cumberland flags to celebrate the tour's return on September 5.

Last year, when a stage of the cycle race started in the town, the building's front was temporarily decorated white with green spots to match the Skoda King of the Mountains jersey that is awarded to the best climber.

This time the town will host a sprint, including record Tour de France stage winner and Olympic medallist Mark Cavendish and Sir Bradley Wiggins, which finishes just outside the house on Main Street.

Zoe Gilbert, visitor experience manager, said: "William was the original king of the mountains.

"He tramped the Lakeland valleys and fells almost every day of his life and celebrated their beauty and power to feed the soul in countless poems.

"If bikes had existed in his youth, we think he would have been an enthusiastic cyclist too."

Stage two of this year's race, from Carlisle to Kendal, is expected to pass through Cockermouth at about 1.30pm.

The auction is to secure use of the window table from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, with a light lunch or cream tea for up to five people, worth up to £50.

Bidders should email their offer to wordsworthhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk and include a daytime contact number.

Elsewhere in the town, people are being encouraged to go green for the event by decorating their homes and businesses in the colour.