A Freedom of Information request has failed to force the Council to reveal who will get the 40 “VIP” tickets that it has reserved for the Tour de France start event at the racecourse.

In addition 200 “freebie” tickets are on offer  “for a specific viewing area” while  a further 5000 community tickets for the racecourse are being offered as “prizes in competitions”.

When tickets were put on offer to the general public they were all snapped up within hours.

The event is being paid for by Council taxpayers.

It will come from the Council’s £1.6 million budget for the event.