THE winner of the Tour de Yorkshire Land Art competition has been unveiled as an image of Branwell Brontë riding his bicycle – in the year which marks his 200th anniversary.

This iconic artwork was designed by Andrew Wood from the Fields of Vision team, and created with help from schoolchildren at Haworth Primary School, where the image was created.

The huge artwork measured 80 by 65 metres and was made using recycled materials including waste marquee carpet and an incredible 3,000 plant pots.

Branwell’s head and hands were sprayed on with grass-friendly paint, while pupils placed and pegged the plant pots into position on their school field to create the bike.

Not only does 2017 mark the anniversary of Branwell Brontë’s birth, but it also marks 200 years since the invention of the first bicycle.

This year, the Tour de Yorkshire Land Art competition drew almost 4,500 public votes – a record breaking figure.

Today (June 21), Sir Gary Verity, the race director of the Tour de Yorkshire, presented Andrew Wood, the Fields of Vision volunteers and the Haworth schoolchildren with the 2017 Land Art trophy.

Sir Gary, who is also chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “This is a fitting winner as the image of Branwell riding his bicycle is a perfect tribute to two trademarks of Yorkshire – the Brontës and cycling.”

Mr Wood, leader of Worth Valley Young Farmers Club’s Fields of Vision project, said: “Having co-organised Sue Ryder’s Brontë Sportive each July for eight years I have always wanted us to do a land art that would link Haworth and cycling.

“The fact 2017 marks both 200 years of Branwell and featured the Tour de Yorkshire coming through the village meant this was the perfect time to do it.

"We are delighted with how it turned out and want to thank everyone who voted for us.”

Helen Thompson, head teacher at Haworth Primary School, said: “The children thoroughly enjoyed using the recycled materials to bring this image of Branwell on a Bike to life to mark the Tour de Yorkshire coming through our village this year.

"We would like to thank the Fields of Vision team for all of their work and support.

"And we would also like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for Branwell in this competition. We feel honoured to have been voted as the winners this year.”