POLICE forces and councils across Yorkshire will share live footage from numerous sites on the opening stages of the Tour de France to ensure the safety of the spectators and riders.

Thirsk-based live video specialists Vemotion, which has previously worked with the French Gendarmerie on the race, will supply CCTV technology to enable authorities to rapidly respond to situations that could develop as more than four million fans are expected to line the routes.

Cameras will be installed at "critical points on the route", such as uphill sections, where crowds are expected to be large and the amount of off-road space for spectators limited.

Stewart McCone, managing director of Vemotion, said: “We have powered live video streaming from the lead vehicle in the Tour de France to the control room in Paris in previous years and while it’s nice working closer to home, it’s all in a day’s work for us, really.”

He said Vemotion had been chosen by the police due to its sophisticated compression technology, with low bandwidth, supplying high quality images in real time through secure streaming.

Mr McCone added: "A system like Vemotion is not so much about security, but public and rider safety and the right people receiving the right information where and when they need it – essential when coordinating such big events.

"CCTV should provide the authorities, the competitors and indeed the general public with real peace of mind."

The British Transport Police in Scotland will be using Vemotion equipment this summer for overt surveillance at the Commonwealth Games.

*Send us pictures of the celebrations as the Tour passes through your town or village on Saturday and Sunday.

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