Roads will be closed to traffic for at least eight hours when the Tour De France passes through Yorkshire in July.

The first road closures for the Grande Depart were announced earlier today by North Yorkshire County Council.

The closures, on Saturday July 5, will allow preparation of the route, the race and publicity caravan, dismantling of the route and the dispersal of spectators.

In the Craven District the road closures include the A65 from the county boundary to the A6069 Otley Road junction, the A6069 from the A65 to Skipton High Street, the A6131 Skipton High Street, the B6265 from Skipton High Street to Threshfield and the B6160 from Threshfield to Kidstones.

The council has urged people to avoid travelling unless absolutely necessary, and said it was likely the roads would be closed for much of the day.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said road closures for the Bradford district will be announced in the coming weeks. The race will pass through Ilkley, Keighley, Haworth and Silsden among other towns and villages.