Hats off to the artists, councillors and children of Pool-in-Wharfedale!

Because just a few months ago Banners Over Pool, a community arts project for the Tour de France, looked nearly dead in the water.

Their funding hopes dashed, it would have been easy for the organisers – especially artists Karen and Tony van de Bospoort and parish councillor Richard Parker – to lose heart.

But instead they ploughed ahead, scouted around for fresh funding help and enlisted the support of local politicians and, in the shape of a £10,000 grant from Leeds Inspired, basically ‘got lucky.’ The scheme, which will see 20 giant, double-sided banners featuring designs by and photos of local children attached to lampposts along the Tour’s route through the village, will be completed this month.

It should act as a fittingly eye-catching ‘Welcome to Pool’ message for the riders when they whizz past on Saturday, July 5.

Let’s hope the luck that helped get this venture over the finishing line strikes again for this weekend’s Otley Show, in the form of some fine spring weather.

After all the months of hard work that secretary Janet Raw and the rest of the Wharfedale Agricultural Society team always put in to prepare for show day, some sunshine is the least they – and the thousands of expected visitors – deserve on Saturday.

Chipping in for Bethany's goal

At the age of 14 Bethany Hare has already achieved amazing things – raising £50,000 to help children who are seriously ill.

Now she is attempting her biggest fund-raising challenge so far – to ‘May’ke a Million in May.’ She is asking Yorkshire people to help her to raise funds to buy Smile Cottage, a permanent respite home in the county for families with children who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

With more than two million households in Yorkshire and Humber, it would only take 50p from each family to make her dream come true.

The month of fundraising includes a competition to find the ‘Voice of Yorkshire’ and will culminate in a massive free party in Millenium Square on May 31.

The aim of making a million in May is an ambitious one, but if everyone in the area gave just a little they could help to achieve something remarkable.

The Smile Cottage will be for children from throughout Yorkshire and it is fitting that people from throughout the county are being asked to make the dream a reality.

Come on Yorkshire – if enough people chip in it would be so easy to achieve such a worthwhile goal.

Visit mayke.org for more details about how you can help.