Otley has been decked out with the White Rose flags of Yorkshire this week to celebrate Yorkshire Day on Thursday, August 1. 

Otley Bellman and UK champion town cryer Terry Ford will be reading the Declaration of Integrity (Yorkshire Day proclamation) at the Maypole at noon – so head along to have a listen and join in if you’re in town. 

The origins of Yorkshire Day stem from 1975 when it was first held in Beverley as a protest against the local government re-organisation of 1974.

It also alludes to the Battle of Minden and the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, for which Yorkshire MP William Wilberforce had campaigned.