Speedy stitchers are needed to help deck one of Ilkley’s main streets with colourful bunting in time for the Tour de France.

Ilkley Parish Council has been given fabric from Brook International in Cross Hills to help decorate Ilkley for the Grand Depart of the big race, which goes through the town on Saturday July 5.

The aim is to decorate The Grove with 500 metres of yellow bunting in time for the weekend of festivities.

Leonie Pratt, from local business The Sewing Shed, and Emma Garry, from EME Cloth & Yarn, have brought all the sewing and crafting groups from the town together to ensure the challenge of 500 metres is met within the tight timescale – but they would like more help.

Packs that include everything needed to create a strip of bunting have been put together with an instruction sheet and can be collected from Eme Cloth & Yarn in Ilkley central car park, I Love Vera at 9B Leeds Road, and The Sewing Shed, Sedbergh park.

The packs are free and should only take a couple of hours to construct.

Sew with the Flow, Ashland’s Makes and Ilkley Sewing Bee are hosting communal sewing sessions and Outside The Box Café, Nora’s and Herbert & Stella are helping by spreading the word.

Leonie said: “The instructions are very simple to follow and the pack includes all the fabric and tape you need. We are just looking for enthusiastic sewers of all ages and abilities with a couple of hours to spare to make up a length for us.

“If school groups would like to get involved they are very welcome.”

If you would like dust off your sewing machine to help make the town look beautiful to welcome visitors, call into one of the venues listed above or contact leonie@thesewing shed.co.uk for more information.

The deadline for completed packs is Thursday, June 25.