BEDALE is buzzing. It is the first time the Tour de Yorkshire has come through the town and it is determined to make the most of it.

On the day spectators are expected to be elbowing for room on White Bear corner, which promises to be one of the high points of stage three on Saturday, May 5. The sharp left-hand bend will take cyclists from Bedale Market Place down the narrow confines of Bridge Street and on through Aiskew, Morton on Swale, Ainderby Steeple and Northallerton.

Dozens of extra barriers have been ordered to keep the crowds back and give competitors the best chance of getting around the corner in one piece.

“People think that’s where there could be some serious tussling, and they don’t want to miss out,” said Hambleton District and Bedale Town councillor John Noone.

“This is going to be amazing for us it really will and it’s long overdue. We have missed out for years on the Tour de Yorkshire and the Grand Depart and now everyone is making the most of the chance to put Bedale on the map."

A special group was set up to coordinate the welcome. There will be a party in the park at Bedale Hall with a giant screen, live music, a DJ, food and drink stalls and a car boot sale.

In town brass bands will be playing and local schools have been drafted in to create land art displays. Bedale High School students are installing theirs near the bridge over the beck. Mowbray School is working on one near the entrance to the graveyard at the bottom of Emgate, and there is a pop-up shop in the Market Place housing art from Bedale Primary School.

Just in case anyone could forget the Tour is on its way, bikes have been a big feature in the town for weeks. Local builder Dave Allison, assisted by Brian Booker, made 200 cut-out bikes which sold for £15 a time to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Yvonne Rose, chair of the Community Forum, is appealing to owners to take them to line the route on the day.

She said: “Many have been bought by traders and are on display in the shops, but a lot have been snapped up by residents so we’re not sure where quite a lot of them are, it would be brilliant if they could be on the roadside when the Tour goes through.”

Highways workers have been out in force despite the weather, with potholes patched up during five days of road closures last month.

“We’re ready,” said Donna Stothard of business group Brand Bedale. “Many people have bent over backwards to make this a success."

The race is due through Bedale at 2pm with the road closed between 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Parking will be suspended in the town centre between noon and 3pm to keep the cobbles clear for spectators.