HARROGATE Borough Council is marking the Tour de France Grand Départ from Yorkshire by awarding grants totalling £15,000 to groups linked to the event.

Grants of between £950 and £2,000 from the council’s community chest will help a number of projects, including the setting up of a cycle club and creation of a garden display.

Council leader Anthony Alton, who approved the grants, said the Grand Départ in July would come through a huge area of the Harrogate district, including Masham, Ripon, Ripley, Harrogate, Knaresborough and Starbeck.

Projects receiving funding include £2,000 for Knaresborough in Bloom, to create a Tour de France Display Garden at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show, £2,000 for the Nova Cycling Club, to develop projects for young cyclists including off-road cycling and £1,000 to Brighter Boroughbridge & District, to create a garden at the southern entrance to the town, with the centrepiece a wooden bike sculpture.

Another £1,500 goes to Harrogate Cycle Action Group, to provide signage for the cycle link to the Great Yorkshire Show Ground from Harland Way, Spofforth.