WORLD Champion cyclist Lizzie Armitstead has done Otley proud.

And on Saturday her home town returned the compliment by turning out in force to see her lead the women’s race in the Tour de Yorkshire.

Vast crowds lined the streets to get a glimpse of Otley’s favourite daughter when she set off at the front of the peloton as riders made their way on a ceremonial route through the town.

Minutes earlier Lizzie had been greeted with loud applause as she told the assembled crowd how much it meant to her to be leading the race from Otley.

“I am very grateful to each and every one of you for supporting me,” she added.

Her fans were not hard to find among the crowds of hundreds, if not thousands, of people lining Otley’s cobbled streets.

There seemed to be Lizzie Armisteads everywhere as people proudly wore the free face masks they had been given to show their support.

Anne Milner was one of those who had been handed a Lizzie mask – and she was more than happy to try it on.

“I used to work at Prince Henry’s and Lizzie went through her schooling there,” she said. “She is a lovely, lovely girl. What she has done and what she has achieved is amazing.”

With six hours between the women’s and men’s departures, the town had laid on plenty of entertainment.

But Anne, who had staked out a prime spot next to the barriers lining the cyclist’s route, said: “I am staying here until the start of the men’s race!”

She added: “It is amazing to see it so busy so early in the morning. There must be well over a thousand people here.”

Also sporting Lizzie masks, Adam Allsuch-Boardman and Hollie Smith had come to Otley from Leeds, where they are both students.

Adam said: “I grew up here so it’s really nice to see it completely transformed. It is almost a festival atmosphere.”

Hollie added: “I like Otley a lot and I’m always coming and visiting.”

Husband and wife Andy and Janet Baldasera were visiting from Staffordshire along with their daughter, Emily.

The family, who originally hail from Harrogate, were lapping up the sunshine just a day after they braved ferocious weather to see the men's Tour near Pateley Bridge.

Andy said: “There were quite a lot of people out there yesterday – I was amazed at how dedicated they were. But it’s brilliant today.”

Emily added: “I didn’t expect to see so many people here at eight in the morning.”

Eight-year-old Robin Marsh was one of those lining the streets, along with his mum, Claire, and dad, Richard.

Carrying a placard saying 'Otley’s Finest c’mon Lizzie' he had a special reason for supporting the champion as she had gone to talk at his school last year.

Robin, who is a pupil at Westgate, said Lizzie had spoken to children at the school and had signed a picture of herself winning the world championship.

Richard said: “We were watching her last night on TV in preparation. We always keep an eye on Lizzie and how she is getting on.”

He added: “It is so early in the morning and there are so many people – it is really good. But Otley is such a big sporting area anyway.”

The women’s race was of particular interest to trainee journalist, Shannon Kennedy, who studies at Northumbria University and who had travelled down with Newcastle University engineering student Andrew Hildyard.

Shannon has just written an article about the fact women’s prize money has gone up as part of a bid to bring parity with men.

“I want to go into sports journalism so what better place to come than here today,” she said.

Andrew, who used to live with his parents in Rawdon, said: “I am a huge cycling fan. I am amazed at how many people have come here today."