BERYL Burton has triumphed again.

The story of Yorkshire's most decorated sportswoman, winner of 90 national cycling cups and seven world titles, has been such a hit that Maxine Peake's play, Beryl, will have an extra week of shows at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in the aftermath of Yorkshire's outbreak of Tour de France fever.

"We’re thrilled to announce an extended run until July 25", says artistic director James Brining.

"Every night we see our audiences on their feet applauding not only our actors but also the astonishing achievements of an ordinary Yorkshire woman. A wife, a mother and an extraordinary cyclist.

Demand for tickets has been so high, we've taken the decision to extend for a further week. It’s a great end to Yorkshire’s celebration of world-class cycling and fantastic that a new play is having such an impact."

Playing to full houses in Leeds since June 30, Beryl tells the story of Morley-born Beryl Charnock, who was bitten by the cycling bug after [future husband] Charlie Burton introduced her to the sport when working together at a cycle shop.

Defying childhood health problems, she trained on rollers above the local Co-op when the weather was too bad and built up her strength by working gruelling shifts on the West Riding's rhubarb farms. The cycling victories stacked up like bikes by a factory gate but to many she remains a mystery: a wrong that Peake's drama will surely help to right.

Tickets for the new shows are expected to sell as quickly as Beryl raced on 0113 213 7700 or at wyp.org.uk