Yorkshire staff banned from calling Tour de France fans 'love' or 'mate'

Organisers of the Tour de France’s visit to Yorkshire in England have insisted the last thing they want to do is tone down the county’s identity after it emerged volunteers were being asked to avoid traditional northern greetings such as “love”.

Thousands of “Tour Makers” have been recruited to help with up to three million people expected to flock to watch the opening two stages of the world’s most famous cycle race on July 5 and 6.