Orders for a fundraising ‘Tour de Essex’ T-shirt, specially-designed by a Saffron Walden illustrator, have been racing in.

Amanda Banham decided to create the shirt ahead of the big race passing through the district on July 7 – with the aim of raising money for charity.

Mrs Banham said: “As a family we have followed the Tour de France many times and I have always made a T-shirt for my husband and son to wear supporting Le Tour.

“This year with Le Tour coming to Saffron Walden I was asked by lots of people if I was going to design a “Tour de Essex “ T-shirt – and so I have!”

The mother-of-four began taking orders for the £10 T-shirt last Friday and has already received more than 100 requests.

All the money raised will go to the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity, a cause close to her heart. She has lost an aunt and a close friend to the disease.

The T-shirt – which on the reverse include all the times that the tour will be passing through the villages in the area – comes in children and adult sizes, ranging from as young as three up to XXL. To purchase one, e-mail Amanda on amanda@amandabanham.com.

? The peloton will be travelling through the area on July 7 as part of the Cambridge to London route. It will go through South Cambs before coming to Great Chesterford, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, Sewards End, Radwinter, Great Sampford, Finchingfield and Felsted.