PREPARATIONS are under way to mark Yorkshire Day across the old Cleveland area.

Cleveland was set up following a local government reorganisation in the mid-1970s, and was abolished more than five years ago when Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Hartlepool became individual authorities.

But the Yorkshire Ridings Society says it is the area's Yorkshire heritage that should be treasured.

The group says Yorkshire is a geographical county and its three ridings - of which Teesside falls in the North - was created more than 1,000 years before local government redefined the boundaries.

Yorkshire Day has been celebrated on August 1 for the past 25 years, because on that date in 1759, soldiers in Yorkshire regiments fighting in Germany picked white roses as a tribute to fallen comrades.

The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity will be read next Saturday morning at Eston Square, outside Asda, at Thornaby, and at Guisborough Market Cross.

In the afternoon, it will be read outside the Co-op, in Skelton High Street, outside the Green Man pub, in Brotton, and outside Safeway, in Loftus.

On Yorkshire Day, the declaration will be read at the town clock in Redcar, The Wynd at Marske, the pier entrance at Saltburn, Staithes harbour, and Whitby bandstand.