TOUR de Yorkshire representatives took to the air to see how the county was celebrating in the run up to the big event.

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire; Christian Prudhomme, General Director of the Tour de France, and Thomas Voeckler, former winner of the Tour de Yorkshire, took a helicopter to see how communities were marking the race.

During the tour by air on Wednesday they saw displays of land art and visited schools.

Sir Gary Verity said: "It was great to see the wonderful creations communities across Yorkshire have come up with to celebrate the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire - they really have done the county proud.

"To see these fantastic pieces of art from the air - as they will be seen by millions of people when the tour is beamed around the world this weekend - made our tour of the county extra special."

The representatives were ferried around by Yeadon-based Multiflight’s new VIP Airbus H155B1 charter helicopter, which has its first official outing.