Worcester residents have been revealed as the second most excited about the Cheltenham Festival in the country.

A study used search volume data to measure excitement for the horse racing, with Worcester only trailing behind Cheltenham itself.

The research found that of Worcester's 108,237 residents, one in 65 is searching for terms related to the festival online.

<hr>

Read more: Ex-Worcestershire player and chairman Duncan Fearnley dies aged 83

<hr>

The research, undertaken by The Winners Enclosure, analysed average search data across 35 of England's most populated towns and cities.

Findings showed over 110,850 searches linked to the Cheltenham Festival have occurred in the past month alone.

The numbers, predicted to surge, show how the event captivates the public even before it begins on Tuesday, March 12.

Worcester's excitement for the event could be due to its popularity amongst Festival attendees.

Hotel prices in Worcester can rise by up to £100 during the festival week, compared to other times of the year.

Cheltenham, which tops the list, saw 8,300 searches out of a population of just over 120,513, with one in 15 residents searching for the festival.

Other racing towns of Epsom and York also featured in the top five, two more areas homing major racetracks.

Wigan too ranked highly, with one in 78 of people conducting festival-related searches in the last month.

Alex Beecham, managing director at The Winners Enclosure, said: "While we know being in the grandstand on Gold Cup day is the place to be, millions across the UK will be looking to replicate the famous Cheltenham roar in their towns and cities across the country."

He added: "In what always promises to be a major celebratory week in the calendar with the races and St Patrick’s Day, the results show that there are plenty of places around the UK where you can get in on the action.

"So it’s no surprise that anticipation for Cheltenham starts well in advance."