A FAMILY business in York has started a novel way to celebrate the Tour de France coming to the city while raising money for charity.

Staff at The Viking Loom craft shop in High Petergate are sending out squares of fabric to participants, who then return them complete with a Tour-themed design.

The individual squares will then be sewn into a special quilt to commemorate the event, with all funds raised from selling entry packs being donated to the British Heart Foundation and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Nicola Chapman, from the craft shop, said: “The theme is cycling, obviously, York and Yorkshire. As long as your design has a link to the race, York and or Yorkshire.

Entry packs cost £3 and are available from the shop or online at vikingloom.co.uk and £1 from each pack sold will be split between the charities.