A TOWN council near York has voted to join a major tourism group.

Selby Town Council voted to support a proposal by town mayor Steve Shaw-Wright, that the council should become a member of Welcome To Yorkshire - the official tourism agency for the region

Cllr Shaw-Wright said: “It makes a great deal of common sense to join Welcome to Yorkshire to take the promotion of the town to the next level. We have a fantastic opportunity to build on the cultural activities offered by the town council based around the award winning Arts Centre, the first Selby Arts Festival and the recent inward investment into the town as clearly seen with the new George Hotel, No1 the Crescent, and the Abbey House restaurant.”

Cllr Shaw-Wright said the recent developments and improvements in the town and hosting stages of the Tour de Yorkshire had set a precedent the town council must now continue.

He said: “Selby is on the right track and the council needs to keep the momentum going and joining Welcome to Yorkshire is the first step.

“The second step will be the hosting of a Selby town tourism event in conjunction with Welcome to Yorkshire that will be held at the Town Hall in the near future.”