BUSINESS in Yorkshire is ready to be of world-class status and should seize the opportunities that a future in Europe offers the region, a conference was told yesterday.

Delegates from a broad spectrum of local government and commercial interest met for the Yorkshire In Europe conference in York's Tempest Anderson Hall.

The event was organised by the Royal Geographical Society and speakers emphasised that Europe presented a timely opportunity for the region.

Deputy chairman of the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, Richard Gregory, said between 3,000 and 6,000 jobs in the region had been created as a direct result of European Union membership.

He added that exports from Yorkshire and Humber to the EU already totalled about £5bn