A rural organisation formed to lobby MPs on agricultural matters is marking the start of its centenary celebrations by returning to the York hotel where it held its very first meeting 100 years ago.

In 1907, the Royal York Hotel, then called the Station Hotel, was the venue for the inaugural meeting of the Yorkshire Land And Property Defence Association.

Now known as the Country Land And Business Association (CLA), the centenary event is being commemorated with a founders' lunch at the city centre hotel on Tuesday, January 30.

Royal York Hotel business development manager Jacqueline Naylor said: "2007 is a very important year for the CLA in Yorkshire, and the founders' party we are holding is the start of a year of celebrations for the organisation.

"Naturally we are delighted the CLA is returning to the very hotel where it began all those years ago."

In 1908, the Yorkshire Land and Property Defence Association merged with the Central Land Association (CLA), creating an influential organisation that is today known as the Country Land and Business Association.