Yorkshire will resound to the sound of bells of all kinds at the start of the Tour de France.

Organisers are inviting the entire county to ring for two minutes just after 8.30pm on Thursday, July 3, at the beginning of the team presentation of the world-famous race.

That is the moment Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme and Gary Verity, chief executive officer of Welcome To Yorkshire will step on to the stage at Leeds Arena to mark the official start of the Grand Depart.

The show’s executive producer, Martin Green, said: “This is a groundbreaking event for the Tour de France - never before in the history of the race have they seen an opening ceremony like this and encouraging bells across our county to ring out together on the evening of July 3 truly will be the signal for the whole of the county to welcome the world.”

Dozens of churches have already agreed to take part in the mass bell ringing. Rod Ismay, of the Yorkshire Association of Change ringers said they plan to make the “loudest most joyful noise”. Everyone in the county is invited to join in with any bell to hand, including bicycle bells.