THE HEAD of Welcome to Yorkshire has been enjoying a pint in an Otley pub that will soon bear his name.

Sir Gary Verity raised a glass to the town's inns when he visited the Black Horse Hotel - which will become the Sir Gary Verity on Yorkshire Day.

All 21 local pubs are being temporarily renamed after a Yorkshire celebrity on August 1 as part of a promotion by Otley Pub Club.

The move follows previous promotions that have seen Otley's pubs renamed for royal weddings, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and - most recently - the Tour de France's Grand Depart, in 2014.

As Chief Executive, Sir Gary helps Welcome to Yorkshire (working with the Amaury Sport Organisation) arrange the Tour de Yorkshire cycling race each year.

Commenting on his forthcoming Otley honour, he said: "The Black Horse has a magnificent atmosphere and serves a great pint so I’m touched that it’s being named after me for Yorkshire Day, a wonderful celebration of all things Yorkshire."

For this year’s promotion the pub club asked residents to nominate their favourite Yorkshire heroes, and then each pub was allocated their 'big name' through a draw.

Hollywood legends like Dame Judi Dench and Sean Bean, literary giant Alan Bennett, the new Doctor Who, Jodie Whittaker, and sporting stars Lizzie Deignan, the Brownlee Brothers and Nicola Adams were among those selected.

Chair of Otley Pub Club, Matt Hardin, said: "It was great to have Gary drop in for a pint and support the special Yorkshire Day renaming of all the town’s pubs.

"It keeps alive the tradition of renaming Otley’s famous pubs for the day and we hope it will encourage even more people to come to Otley to visit the town and its inns."

Marie Wright from the Black Horse Hotel added: "It was a real honour to have Sir Gary pop in for a pint and we’re delighted that we’re going to be the Sir Gary Verity on Yorkshire Day.

"I hope everyone will come to Otley on August 1 and enjoy visiting the town with all the pubs re-named after well-known Yorkshire folk!"

Some of the celebrities have promised to try to visit their pubs in Otley on Yorkshire Day, or close to it, to mark the occasion.

Cricketing legend Dickie Bird will be nipping in to the Otley Tavern on Saturday, July 28 while gold medal-winning Hannah Cockroft will visit The Junction Inn on Yorkshire Day itself.

Others hoping to be able to come include triathlon champions Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, who will see their names - as The Brownlee Brothers - above Whitakers on August 1.

Alan Bennett, meanwhile, has sent a message on a postcard along with a line drawing self-portrait while Dame Judi Dench sent a personal e-mail congratulating the pub club on the initiative.

World-conquering cyclist Lizzie Deignan, who is expecting her first child, might not make it back to her hometown for the day but has sent a signed cycling shirt for The Royalty Inn.