Hundreds of cyclists are set to hit the roads of Norfolk and Suffolk at the weekend for a charity event following the route of a Tour of Britain stage.

The two counties are preparing to welcome a host of professional riders on September 17 for the penultimate leg of the internationally-renowned cycle race.

And a host of keen cyclists will get to follow the 200km route on Sunday for the East Anglia Tour Ride to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Charity.

The event will start at Bury St Edmunds from 7am with participants set to complete the ride at the Sandringham Estate in west Norfolk in the afternoon. A shorter 100km challenge route will start from Fair Green at Diss from 9am on Sunday and will also end at Sandringham.

Darren Moore, programme manager for the Tour of Britain said more than 600 people had signed up to take part in the ride, which will run through Shelfhanger, Bunwell, Wymondham, Barnham Broom, East Tuddenham, Western Longville, Alderford, Booton, Reepham, Bawdeswell, Mileham, Rougham, Gayton, and Congham as part of the Norfolk leg.

'It is the first time we have done a tour ride in East Anglia, we have done them for a number of years in different parts of the country and 600 for a first year is a very good turn out.'

'It is generally keen cyclists that take part who want to ride the same route as the Tour of Britain and people doing it because it is local to them. It is a ride not a race and the professionals will be doing it under five hours, but for these guys it will be anything from around six and a half hours and upwards,' he said.

More than 4,000 amateur riders took part in three events last year across Britain to raise awareness of prostate cancer and more than �520,000 for the charity. The East Anglian ride on Sunday will be one of five charity events this year ahead of the tour.

• South Norfolk Council is gearing up for a summer of cycling with an event between 11am and 3pm in Diss on Saturday. The authority has teamed up with Diss Town Council and the Fair Green Residents Association to inspire people to get active in the run-up to the Tour of Britain.

On Saturday, visitors can try various types of bikes, have a go on a pedal-powered Scalextric track and make their own drinks on a cycle smoothie maker. Musicians will be playing tunes from recycled bike parts and Dr Bike will be giving away free bike MOTs.