YOUNGSTERS are invited to Keighley's Airedale Shopping Centre next Thursday (April 13) as it gets into gear for the Tour de Yorkshire.

From 11am to 3pm, an interactive craft workshop will be taking place, giving children the chance to let their imaginations run wild and create larger-than-life vinyl cyclists. These will be installed on the roof of the centre to mark the arrival of the Tour in the town.

Centre manager Steve Seymour said: “The excitement is building here as the Tour de Yorkshire creeps closer.

“The Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014 left a wonderful cycling heritage across Yorkshire, and I’m thrilled that Welcome to Yorkshire have built on that fantastic legacy with the Tour De Yorkshire.

“It’s become a firm favourite on the events calendar in the region and as it’s the first time that Keighley has experienced the excitement of the Tour de Yorkshire, we wanted to be able to give children a chance to get artistic so they could really get involved and feel the thrill of the Tour.

“We recently visited Parkwood Primary School to run similar workshops with pupils in years three and four and their work was fantastic.

"Everyone at the centre can’t wait for the Tour to get here and our workshop is only going to add to that excitement.

"Our centre mascot, Filbert the Squirrel, may even make an appearance. I know he loves cycling.”

The Tour de Yorkshire workshops will be free for children of all ages.

Visit airedaleshoppingcentre.co.uk/ for more information about upcoming events at the shopping centre.