VILLAGERS getting into gear for the Addingham Tour Festival as they prepare to welcome as many as 20,000 visitors a day on the Tour de France race weekend.

The Tour Addingham 2014 Committee – a group of local residents, organisations and businesses – has been planning for The Tour’s arrival for several months - and gas come up with a variety of events for the festival.

National plant hire company Speedy Services has agreed to support the village in marking this major sporting event.

Entertainment is planned by village pubs, and the Committee felt other events could be held to increase the attractions of the village as a place to watch the Tour, and boost trade for local businesses.

Ideas included a Family Fun Food Court outside the Primary School, with food and drink stalls and children’s fairground rides, and a major entertainment hub at the Hoffman -Wood sports field on the edge of the village, with large TV screen, music and other stage performances, food and drink marquees and local craft stalls.

The multi-use games area (MUGA) in the centre of the village is to be converted into a secure bicycle storage area.

Speedy Services are providing equipment for the Food Court and Festival Filed sites, including fencing, barriers, generators, lighting towers and a marquee.

In addition, Bradford Council has funded a television screen for the festival field, with further contributions from Addingham Parish Council. Local farmer Michael Flesher is providing straw bales to be used for seating at the site.

Continuing the trend of strong local support, Addingham Civic Society has offered funding for Addingham-branded Tour merchandise and village decorations, which will be appearing shortly.

Whilst the celebrations are expected to boost trade in local shops and pubs, a major objective of the Committee is for any surplus festival events may make to go into a Legacy Fund, to be used for the benefit of young people in the village as a legacy of The Tour.

Vice-chairman of The Tour Addingham 2014 Committee, Richard Hunter-Rowe, said: "We are extremely grateful to Speedy Services for their fantastic support, which means we can now take our ideas forward. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution from Bradford Council, who we have been working closely with, and not forgetting the support from within the village itself. It will now be possible to put on a real show for the arrival of The Tour, befitting the only place it’s coming twice."

Mr. Hunter-Rowe said there were still opportunities to get involved with the village festival in any way. Contact him on 07876478380 or e-mail thetouraddingham2014@gmail.com for details.

Visit thetouraddingham.co.uk for full event information.