LIVERPOOL has been shortlisted to become the only UK host port for The Ocean Race in 2021/22.

Wirral Council is backing the bid from Liverpool to welcome one of the most prestigious sporting events on water, The Ocean Race while also looking at opportunities to co-host the event.

Taking place every four years, The Ocean Race attracts around 2.5m live spectators and a TV audience of more than 2bn.

The event sees the elite of the professional sailing race around the world - visiting six continents in eight months.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, March 19) will see a critical milestone in Merseyside's bid to host the event with a team from The Ocean Race heading to Liverpool to assess the suitability.

The team will visit Wirral to explore its waterfront while checking our key landmarks such as Pier Head and the Royal Albert Dock.

The 2021/22 edition of the race will start from Spain in the autumn of 2021 and finish in Europe in the early summer of 2022, with up to nine stopover ports.

Race director, Phil Lawrence said: “The Ocean Race is a truly unique sporting endeavour that brings substantial benefits, impacts and audiences to its host partners.

“We are delighted to see such an engaged and committed effort from Liverpool and look forward to partnering closely with the Merseyside team as they further develop their bid.

"It is impressive to see the energy and enthusiasm this hosting opportunity has generated.”

It is expected that a final decision on host cities will be announced in the summer.