Craven should capitalise on the potential health benefits of Le Tour as it comes through the district next year, said the county’s director of public health.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, who was unveiling his first annual report on North Yorkshire’s health to Craven councillors, said there was great potential to encourage cyclists to cycle more and others to take it up.

He said he was sure there would already be lots of people coming to Craven to try out the route of the Grand Depart, which will pass through the area, including Skipton High Street, on two days in July next year.

“The legacy from the Tour is to get people to be more active; each of us should be looking at exercising for half an hour on most days of the week,” he said.