Yorkshire’s newspapers have been praised for a ‘tour de force’ after publishing a series of special editions and supplements to mark the start of the Tour de France in the county.

But newspapers further south had a chance to get in on the act this week when the Tour headed to the East of England for the third stage between Cambridge and London.

This week’s go! leisure and entertainment section of the Essex Chronicle and Brentwood Gazette was a special edition celebrating the coming of Le Tour.

Sponsored by Chelmer Cycles, it featured Tour timings, road closures, interviews with cyclists and Tour Makers and a map detailing the route and organised events along the way.

Features editor Darryl Webber said: “We wanted to mark the Tour de France coming through Essex and celebrate such a historic occasion with a special edition of go!

“It took a lot of hard work and organisation, but I’m really pleased with the results and have had some great feedback.”

Regional newspapers have been praised by the advertising community for their coverage of the Tour which included wraps, supplements, and live blogs as well as picture galleries and video.

The Yorkshire Post published on a Sunday for only the second time in its history, with a 40-page souvenir edition, followed with another 40-page supplement free with the paper on Monday.

The Sheffield Star produced supplements before and after the event while The Ilkley Gazette and the Craven Herald & Pioneer provided live blogs for their readers, with supplements published yesterday.