A CERTIFICATE of appreciation has been handed over to police officers in Keighley to recognise their work in to ensure the smooth running of last summer’s Tour de France.

Keighley Town Council Watch and Transport Committee Chairman Councillor Michael Westerman and Committee Vice-chairman Cllr Kathrine Roberts visited Keighley Police Station on Monday (April 20 to present the award to the force's Chief Superintendent Simon Atkin.

Cllr Westerman said the police had put in a “first class” effort to ensure the race passed through the county safely.

The district is now gearing up for next month’s Tour de Yorkshire, which aims to exploit the enthusiasm generated by last year’s Tour de France and one of Silsden’s most distinctive Tour de France landmarks has been spruced up in readiness for the latest race on May 3.

Volunteers (pictured) cleaned the collection of balls, painted in the race winners’ colours, on the approach from Steeton to Silsden.

The work was generously carried out by Silsden’s Grand deParty Group, which is spearheading local celebrations for the Tour de Yorkshire.

Silsden vicar Reverend David Griffiths, one of the volunteers, said everyone smiled last year after Bradford Council repainted the balls.

He said: “Whilst the Tour de Yorkshire route doesn’t pass the balls, they’ve become an appreciated part of our town.”

Silsden’s Grand deParty Group is co-ordinating a three-week season of events to coincide with this year’s Tour de France in July.