The keynote speaker at this year's Yorkshire International Business Convention has pulled out.

Former German chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, was to have addressed 1,500 delegates in Harrogate on Friday, June 8, but has this week had to withdraw because of "urgent political business".

However organisers have replaced him with Sir Bob Geldof Sir Bob will be flying in to the convention direct from this year's G8 conference in Heiligendamm, Germany. He will speak in the morning before being flown back to rejoin the summit.

Chief executive Mike Firth said he had always hoped to have Sir Bob as a speaker at the convention in the future, but Mr Schroeder's decision to cancel created an immediate opportunity which Sir Bob was keen to accept.