AN appeal has been made to make the Tour de Yorkshire’s race through Hambleton a “memorable event” - with safety experts drafted in to see if they can plough the race through middle of the traditional Northallerton May fair.

With less than 100 days to go, town mayor John Forrest has appealed for businesses and retailers to join the town council in organising celebrations.

Hambleton District Council has earmarked £30,000 to help support Stage Three of the event on May 1 which will bring the riders through the heart of the district for the first time.

The race sets off from Middlesbrough going through Great Ayton, Stokesley, Hutton Rudby, Northallerton and Thirsk before heading off over the North York Moors to the coast through Whitby and ending in Scarborough.

Northallerton’s town council is setting up a special group to work with local businesses.

“The fair is in town and Hambleton District Council are in contact to see if it can stay open when the cyclists go through,” said Cllr Forrest.

Cllr Tony Hall added: "It is an opportunity for the town to showcase itself. Although it will be through in an hour, the promotion that is available there is huge.

“It is going to come down Winton Bank and under the Allertonshire Bridge - it would be wonderful to have something on there. Then it comes down Quaker Lane, through the High Street and down Thirsk Road.

“There is an opportunity to promote the fair and have some events in the town hall, however when you bear in mind it isn’t that far away we have to do it quickly,” he added.

Hambleton District Council’s executive director Dave Goodwin said part of the authority's role in the tour was to make sure it passed through safely.

“At the same time we want it to be as exciting as possible and a memorable spectacle," he said.

"With the live TV coverage it is a great opportunity to showcase our market towns and villages.”

He said they had agreed with the Showmen’s Guild to have the race go through the fair without it operating.

However they are also looking to see if they can have a safe event with Bradley Wiggins and the peloton riding through the middle of the fair while it is in action - and a risk assessment is now being carried out.