THE dream of bringing Europe's biggest free music festival to the Bay is moving closer after Radio 1 scouts agreed to visit the area.

Events promoter Deckard Bulley is spearheading a campaign to bring the Big Weekend to Torquay in two years' time.

His efforts have so far attracted more than 8,000 supporters since he set up a Facebook page in January.

Now Radio 1's head of outdoor events has agreed to come and see for himself whether the Bay has what it takes to stage what is annually one of the summer's biggest and most lucrative outdoor events.

Deckard said: "They have agreed to come down and have a look at possible sites. In 2012 it is due to be staged somewhere in the south and we think we are in with a real shout.

"We are going to show him around Torbay at the different sites available like Torre Abbey and Clennon Valley.

"Torbay mayor Nick Bye and MP Adrian Sanders have already left messages of support on our Facebook page and the council's tourism department has helped to arrange the meeting.

"What we need now is for everyone, young and old, individuals and businesses, to really get behind what we are doing and show Radio 1 we are capable and really want the Big Weekend here.

"I think Torbay would be a superb location and it would be a boost for everyone."

The Big Weekend features some of the world's best-selling acts and attracts more than 20,000 people over its two days.

This year's event is being held in Wales and the bill includes Pixie Lott.

Deckard has been busy gauging the level of support in the Torbay business community. An event of the scale of the Big Weekend would be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to the local economy.

He says feedback has been universally positive and a website is due to go online today to show people what benefits the festival would bring.

Deckard, of DB Events, thinks Torre Abbey Meadow or Clennon Valley would make a good location but no decision has yet been made and much will hinge on the visit of Jason Carter, the radio channel's head of outdoor events.

A spokesman for the council's English Riviera Tourism Board confirmed a meeting would take place in the summer.

The Bay is likely to face stiff competition from other south coast resorts, including Brighton. A decision is still at least 12 months away.

Mr Bye and Mr Sanders have left Facebook messages praising the 'enthusiasm' of the bid team and saying it would be a 'significant boost for tourism'.

A spokesperson for Radio 1 said: "We speak to a number of locations each year for Radio 1's Big Weekend but we won't be able to confirm any more details until a decision has been made."

For more information visit

www.db-events.co.uk/radio1bid