A YORK delegation has urged a senior French government minister to back Yorkshire’s bid to host the start of the Tour de France in 2014.

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Keith Hyman , is leading a team on a four-day visit to Dijon to explore possible economic links.

Yesterday, City of York Council leader James Alexander handed a letter promoting the Yorkshire bid to Francois Rebsamen, finance minister, leader of the Socialists in the French senate and mayor of Dijon.

Coun Alexander said about the visit as a whole: “This is a great opportunity for the council to promote York as a destination for business and to build meaningful connections to an international market. I am very much looking forward to exploring economic opportunities and learning of how Dijon has facilitated economic growth whilst maintaining its heritage.”