The Government has rejected a funding bid to help Yorkshire host part of the Tour de France in 2014.

Yorkshire won the bid to host Tour's Grand Depart next year, but the lack of government funding will be a blow to organisers.

However, Skipton MP Julian Smith said he was 'confident' of securing major funding for the event, and will be heading a delegation of MPs who will be meeting with culture secretary Maria Miller.

The event is expected to attract thousands of people to Skipton and Craven.

Mr Smith said: “Yorkshire Conservative MPs have worked relentlessly over the past few months to secure a major funding commitment for Le Tour from the Government.

“I am confident that we should have positive news on that very soon and Conservative MPs are meeting Maria Miller today to make final representations.”