TADCASTER is set to celebrate hosting the start of Tour De Yorkshire races by staging its own first ever cycle festival.

Both the women’s and men’s races will start on the town’s reconstructed bridge on Saturday April 29, and residents are planning to give the day a carnival feel.

Town councillor Kirsty Perkins said the day would begin with Yorkshire Regiment drummers marching through the town. “This is especially poignant as the Yorkshire Regiment formed part of the clear-up team following the 2015 flood,” she said.

“Shortly after, the bells of St Mary’s church will ring out, and the women will start their race at 9.10am.

“The festival will be held across several locations in the town but predominantly in St Joseph’s Street, which will be closed for the day.

“It will have a carnival feel to it and provide entertainment and interactive stalls for all to enjoy.

“As well as the Minster FM roadshow, we are really excited to have World Champion Trial Biker Jack Carthy who will be doing demonstrations for us .

“We will also have live street art by Bristol–based graffiti artist SledOne. He’ll be doing a commemorative piece for the town to keep, based on the Tour’s visit.”

From one side of town to the other there will be wonderful exciting things to see and do.

She said there would be a vintage bike museum in the Riley Smith Hall, a “Tour de Canard” duck race on the river, street entertainers Granny Tourismo and Wacky Wheelers fun bikes, and balance bikes, kid’s crafts and a skate park at Manor Farm.

There would be big screens showing the race live at the bus park and social club car park, and street food and market place in St Joseph’s Street.

She said parking areas would be provided on the eastern and western outskirts, with a regular shuttle bus running from the grammar school into town, and bicycle racks would be provided at various points in the town, Magnets Sports and Social Club, Coors Brewery and a point on the east. “Blue Badge holders can park at the Enterprise park behind Commer house off Station Road.”