THERE will now be a small part of God's own county permanently based in London as two Bradfordians have set up a new branch of theYorkshire Society.

At a dinner in the House of Lords, former Bradford Grammar School students Sir David Wootton and Ken Wootton unveiled the new society branch, which aims to promote Yorkshire in the capital and highlight its economic, social and sporting achievements.

Sir David, the first Bradfordian to be Lord Mayor of London, will be president of the branch and said he was looking forward to promoting Yorkshire.

He said: "My working life has always been in the capital but I have never left Yorkshire so to be involved is fantastic."

The dinner was hosted by Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford, and more than 120 Yorkshire exiles attended the event.

Lord Patel said: "I know through my own work with business groups in Yorkshire that manufacturing, innovation, creativity and sporting prowess are parts of the unique Yorkshire heritage that make so much of an economic contribution to the UK.

"If the Northern Powerhouse is to become a reality there has to be a connection between work in the region and Westminster, and the Yorkshire Society London branch will see that happen."

Keith Madeley, chairman of the Yorkshire Society, praised Sir David and Lord Patel for their work to raise the profile of the county, and said the new London branch was the realisation of a dream he had long held.

He said: "Sir David is a passionate Yorkshireman and has carried the torch for the county's values wherever he has lived and worked.

"Launching the London branch of the Yorkshire Society at our first House of Lords dinner for 30 years is recognition of the work that people such as Lord Patel and Sir David do to remind people of the contribution made by Yorkshire and its sons and daughters around the world."