YORK played its part in the annual Yorkshire Day celebrations today.

The city hosted a string of events to mark Yorkshire Day, which was established 36 years ago in an effort to protect and commemorate the county's pride and heritage.

It began with the readings of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity at the city's four historic Bars, with the first recital taking place at 11.36am in tribute to the 1,136 years since the first reference to the county and its Ridings was made.

A reading also took place at the fountain in Parliament Street, with those taking part declaring their loyalty to the county, while the Yorkshire flag was flown from the Mansion House and the Guildhall.

Newgate Market also switched to its original home in Parliament Street to celebrate Yorkshire's wealth of food and drink, with samples of Yorkshire Tea also being offered to shoppers and tourists and crowds being entertained by Morris dancers, brass bands and whippets from the Scruples rescue centre, whose volunteers also held collections for their cause.

The day also gave residents and visitors one of their final chances to visit the Hungate Dig, with recent archaeological discoveries at the city centre site being put on display and experts explaining the story behind them.

Outside York, a celebration of all things Yorkshire was also held at Sutton Bank, with those attending having the opportunity to try local delicacies and try their hands at crafts and painting some of the area's famed scenery.

Yorkshire Day was the creation of the Yorkshire Ridings Society, established in 1974 after the local government reorganisation of the region, with its aim being to preserve the county's identity and unique character.

August 1 was chosen for Yorkshire Day in tribute to the day in 1759 when soldiers from Yorkshire regiments serving in Germany picked white roses in memory of their fallen comrades. It is also the day when slavery in the British Empire was abolished, largely due to the efforts of politician, campaigner and social reformer William Wilberforce, from East Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Day celebrations were also on a roll at the York Maze, at Elvington, as the tourist attraction staged its straw bale race.

Contestants were asked to cover a distance of 100 metres while pushing a huge round bale of straw, with prizes being awarded to individual winners and victorious teams.