EVENTS which bring together communities to create something truly special are always inspiring, but it is staggering to hear North Yorkshire’s economic boost following the Tour de Yorkshire was £98m.

The cycling event has grown year on year since it first hosted the Grand Depart in 2014, but an independent study has confirmed just how much of an impact it has had.

A record 2.6 million spectators lined the route over the four days of action between May 3 to 6 and overall spend was up 54per cent on 2017 to £97,973,806.

Accommodation spend also increased 49 per cent year on year and non-accommodation items such as food and drink, souvenirs and transport was UP by 58 per cent.

This will no doubt be welcomed by all the businesses and individuals who worked hard to make sure their towns and villages were ready to invite tourists and locals alike, and looked the part for the 12.5m global TV viewers – a 29 per cent increase on 2017.

On a slightly smaller scale, a bid to impress judges of Britain in Bloom has inspired residents of Richmond to get out and clean up gardens, roadsides and public spaces.

Original Richmond Business and Tourism Association led the campaign to spruce up the town and they say they have been overwhelmed by the support.

Marcia McLuckie from the association said: "The bid really brought the community together. People have been helping us with weeding and cleaning up on evenings and weekends – it has been amazing.

"We are proud of our town and clearly everyone else is too, which is wonderful to see."