Efforts to establish cycling tourism links between Devon and France have been handed a £500,000 cash boost by the European Union's Cross Channel Cycle Project.

The funding will help support Devon County Council's (DCC) plans for the construction of Gem Bridge at Grenofen, which will complete the Drake's Trail between Tavistock and Plymouth. Forming part of the National Cycle Network, the 200m (656ft) bridge will be 24m (79ft) high and would enable the trail to be incorporated into the continental-wide Eurovelo network.

Stuart Hughes, cabinet member for highways and transportation at DCC, said: "There are mutual benefits from working with our partners in this country and across the Channel and this injection of funding will help us improve the county's cycling infrastructure so that local cyclists as well as visitors will benefit from better routes." DCC is working alongside Brittany Regional Council in a bid to help increase the number of cycling options on both sides of the English Channel, while a number of other local authorities are also involved.

French partners in the scheme are working with ferry companies to introduce measures to encourage more people to use cross-channel routes for cycling holidays.