FLAGS from around the world will be flying outside Otley’s pubs this September.

Each of the town’s inns is set to ‘adopt’ one of the nations that will be represented in the 2019 UCI Road Cycling World Championships.

The championships, based in Harrogate, will run from September 22 to September 29 - with the women’s and men’s elite road races set to pass through Otley on Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29.

Otley Pub Club has allocated a nation to every Otley pub, whose names will be translated into the appropriate language, while each inn will also be flying its country’s flag and offering related drinks and food.

Consul General Ivo Losman, from the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Manchester, visited Otley to see the pub which will represent his country: the Red Lion or, as it will become, the Cervený Lev.

He said: “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to see Otley, a town with such a lively pub culture. That is something we in the Czech Republic know very well.

“I am confident that international pub week will be a success and lots of people will use the opportunity to taste, for example, world-famous Czech beer.”

Mr Losman met the Red Lion’s manager, Maekala Burr and Paul Watts, the area manager of Craft Union Pubs, during his visit.

Town Mayor Councillor Peter Jackson, who welcomed the Consul General, said: “I was pleased to meet Mr Losman. This is a great opportunity for Otley’s pubs to be recognised internationally.

“I wish all the pubs and Otley Pub Club all the very best for this event.”

Bob Brook of Otley Pub Club, who is co-ordinating the Pub Nations project, added: “What began as a way of celebrating two UCI World Championship races coming through town has really snowballed! Two thirds of the national Embassies and tourist boards we approached have now become actively involved.”

Prince Henry’s Grammar School is helping the club with the task of translating each pub’s name into the relevant language.