ALL LEAVE for police officers in North Yorkshire has been cancelled during this year’s Tour de France.

Millions of people are expected to flock to Yorkshire for the biggest cycling event in the world, which will start for the first time in the county, and organisers are demanding there should be police at every point of the route, which includes Upper Wensleydale and Craven.

Assistant Chief Constable Ken McIntosh, who is leading the police planning for North Yorkshire Police ahead of the 2014 Tour de France event, confirmed this meant leave had to be restricted throughout the force for the duration of the event.

He said: “The visit of the Tour de France is expected to draw a very large number of visitors to the county. As a result North Yorkshire Police has restricted leave applications between June 27 and July 11, 2014, for police officers, police community support officers and a range of police staff, while we examine the resourcing requirements for this prestigious event.”

ACC McIntosh said the force would consider the methods used during the Olympic torch tour in 2012 on how best to 'ensure the safety and security of the public' during the event, and would be working alongside partners and volunteers.

Mark Botham, chairman of the North Yorkshire Police Federation, said the organisation was 'working with the force' and would not be making a public comment at this time.