Celebrations underway to mark Yorkshire Day

Events have been taking place across our region to celebrate the fortieth Yorkshire Day. The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity - has been read at the four ancient entrances to the city of York. And there has been a series of events at York Maze. Michael Billington was there.

As part of Yorkshire Day celebrations each year, the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity (a statement to the allegiance of Yorkshire) is read out:

I (your name) being resident in the (East/North/West) Riding ofYorkshire declare:that Yorkshire is three Ridings &the City of York with these boundaries of 1140 years standing; that the address of all places in these Ridings is Yorkshire; that all persons born therein or resident therein and loyal to the Ridings are Yorkshire men and women; That any person or corporate body which deliberately ignores or denies the aforementioned shall forfeit all claim toYorkshire status.

These declarations made this Yorkshire Day 2015.

Yorkshire for ever!God save the Queen!

Events are taking place across the county to celebrate Yorkshire Day. Here are a few facts about the origins of the event:

• It is celebrated on August 1 to promote the historic English county of Yorkshire
• It was initially celebrated in 1975 in Beverley as a protest against the local government re-organisation of 1974.
• The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity, is read out as a central part of the celebrations, which affims Yorkshire's anicent foundation in 875 AD
• As part of the celebrations there is a Civic gathering of Lord Mayors, Mayors and other Civic Heads from across the county, covened by the Yorkshire Society.

Yorkshire Day celebrations are planned to take place in Bradford later today.

They will start at 12 noon with the City Hall bells striking the hour and playing the Yorkshire anthem, 'Ilkla Moor Baht'at.

As part of the ceremony, Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Joanne Dodds will perform the official reading of the Yorkshire Day Declaration on the steps of Bradford's City Hall and the Yorkshire flag will fly in Centenary Square.