LONDON World sprint king Usain Bolt is to compete in a street race over 150 metres at the Great City Games in Manchester on May 17, organisers announced on Wednesday.

The triple Olympic champion in Beijing and world record holder over 100 and 200 metres will race on European soil for the first time this year before tackling other races on the IAAF World Athletics Tour in June and July ahead of the World Championships in Berlin in August.

The 22-year-old Jamaican, who won his first 100m race of the year at home last weekend in a wind-assisted 9.93 seconds, has confirmed he will run on a specially constructed tartan track in the city centre

'I am very excited to compete for my first time in Manchester, my first time in a 150m race and my first time in a street race outside the stadium,' he said in a statement.

'I love competing in the UK, it is like my second home as I usually stay in London during the European racing season.'

'When I heard about the idea I thought it would be great fun and something new and exciting.'

'Hopefully this event will be the start of many more similar events all over the world and inspire kids to take up athletics.'

Bolt also revealed that he was a big Manchester United football fan and said he would try to make it over to Old Trafford to take in a game.

'I've wanted to come to a match for a long time and am delighted to get the opportunity,' he said.

Further ahead, Bolt said his main target of the season remained the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in August.