Rushall brimmed with excitement when the Tour of Britain made its way through the village.

The street was dotted with spectators sat on picnic blankets, deck chairs and waving flags ready for the arrival of the hundreds of cyclists passing through.

Community spirit was also in full swing, villager Mary Stacy, 86, who has lived in Rushall for 60 years spent the morning giving the roads a spruce with her sweeping brush.

She said: “I’m brushing the mess up, can’t have it dirty when they come through.”

Spectator Gary Wilson, 53 from Hilcot, set up base on the grass bank complete with a deck chair, poised with a camera ready to capture the event.

He said: “The professionals whiz by so quickly but it will be great to see Wiggins and Cavendish in the flesh.”

Onlookers and keen cyclists also gathered at the crossroads with the A342 Devizes Road to watch the bikes come right towards them.

Adding to the suspense, cycling instructor Roger Hayward, 69, from Netheravon, had a radio on hand listening to the commentary of what part of the route they were at, counting down the minutes until they reached Rushall.

He said: “It’s the fourth tour of Britain I’ve been to, I love it. It’s a wonderful thing to happen.”

At 11.40am support vehicles and police motor bikes came into the village before the bikes came zooming through.

Clapping and a lot of cheering came from the pupils at Rushall Primary School, and shouts of joy from residents who stood outside their homes.

Mrs Stacy said: “It went quick but it was absolutely fantastic “It’s the biggest excitement we’ve had in Rushall for a long time.”

And Mr Wilson said: “It was great fun, really good. The kids made the atmosphere.”

Sue Newport, from Charlton St Peter, joked: “I would have liked them to have slowed down”.