A CHARITY is helping to turn a civic centre yellow and blue to mark the upcoming Tour de Yorkshire.

Many top riders will be speeding through Northallerton on the third stage of the race on May 1 and the town is planning to celebrate.

And to that end members of a charity are busy putting the finishing touches to wooden bikes which will adorn Hambleton District Council’s headquarters from next week.

Northdale Horticulture is working with council officers to dress five bikes in the race colours for the centre and another three for the leisure centres in Northallerton, Stokesley and Thirsk which are also on the route.

“The service users and staff at Northdale are delighted to have been invited to take part in the preparations for the Tour de Yorkshire,” said the charity’s service manager Simon Cross.

“It’s great that such major sporting event can support the involvement of people from right across our community.

“Our clients have had great fun decorating the bikes and we hope that the residents of Hambleton and Richmondshire will enjoy seeing them dotted around the district.”

Northdale, which is based in Northallerton, provides training and work-based activities for adults with learning disabilities, including gardening, nursery work, woodwork and arts and crafts.