Essex is on track to host yet another major cycling event just three weeks after the Aviva Women’s Tour passed through Braintree.

Active Essex, an Essex County Council initiative, is negotiating with the organisers of the Giro d’Italia to bring the third biggest tour in world cycling to the county.

The Giro d'Italia is one of the three ‘Grand Tours’, along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana.

Gary Sullivan, chair of Active Essex, told Heart radio: "We have responsibility, and we take it very seriously, to make sure we can bring those world-class sporting events to Essex.

"The time-frame? I don't think I can commit to that as it's likely to be a lengthy negotiation.

"We think we can make a good argument for them to persuade them to come here to enjoy our hospitality and the Essex countryside, so I'm very confident."

The Tour de France passed though the Braintree district after it started in Leeds in July last year.

Essex also hosted the Olympic Mountain Bike event in 2012, the Tour of Britain and the Women's Tour in 2014.