DOZENS of bikes painted blue and yellow have appeared across York as the city prepares to welcome the Tour de Yorkshire.

City of York Council has placed about 35 bikes at its West Offices HQ, in Foss Islands Road, Paragon Street, The Mount, Layerthorpe and at the Askham Bar Welcome to York sign, prior to the cycle race’s arrival in the city a week tomorrow.

A spokesman said other organisations had also put out bikes painted in the race colours at locations, including Your Bike Shed café in Micklegate, the Holiday Inn, Brigantes, The Maltings and Holy Trinity Church.

He said the bikes were from the Bike Rescue Project and the blue ones were painted free of charge by Alex Isherwood, a former car bodyshop employee who now owns car polishing specialist business, Attention To Detail, while the yellow ones were painted at the council depot.