YORK will host the last-ever Sky Ride next month as the television giant comes to the end of its sponsorship of British Cycling.

Hundreds of thousands of cyclists from toddlers to grannies have enjoyed the pleasures of cycling on traffic free city centre streets across the country for the last three years with different cities and towns hosting the event on different weekends.

The 2016 season finishes on Sunday September 11 when cars are allowed back on Colliergate, Coppergate, Duncombe Place and the other roads on an 7km loop past York Minster and Clifford’s Tower.

Launching the event at Clifford’s tower yesterday, City of York Council leisure portfolio member, Cllr Nigel Ayre, said: “Over 23,500 cyclists have taken part throughout the last three years during the big city Sky Ride events in York.

“I hope even more cyclists will join them, it doesn’t matter how old you are, how old your bike is or how fast you ride, everyone can take part in Sky Ride York.”

Sky announced that it was ending its sponsorship of British Cycling’s domestic cycling scene last year and the national federation has yet to announce a new sponsor and whether the city centre rides will continue under a different name.

The Sky Ride starts at 11am on Sunday September 11, with the last rider allowed on at 4pm. The event coincides with the York Festival of Cycling at Rowntree Park.