TWO members of a North East women's club attended the orientation day for volunteers at the Grand Depart of the Tour de France.

Barbara Brown and Sue Fortescue, of Darlington Soroptimists, were among 5,000 tour makers at the event in the Leeds Arena on Saturday (May 24)

Mrs Fortescue said: "I decided to volunteer because I had such a wonderful time as a Games Maker in 2012.

"The Leeds event was just as inspiring as the one in London before the Olympic Games."

Mrs Brown was one of the Soroptimists who helped as marshals when the Olympic torch relay went through Darlington.

She said: "It was such a great atmosphere. That's why I wanted to be involved with the Grand Depart."

There will be a role-specific training day in Leeds in June, before the race begins on July 5.

Mrs Fortescue will be volunteering in Leeds city centre, while Mrs Brown has been allocated a role in the Leyburn area.