Yorkshire city is first to be heard (5)
I believe the answer is:
leeds
'yorkshire city' is the definition.
(city in West Yorkshire)
'is first to be heard' is the wordplay.
'is first' becomes 'leads' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to be heard' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'leads' sounds like 'LEEDS'.
(Other definitions for leeds that I've seen before include "West Yorkshire city" , "Industrial city of northern England" , "Championship team" , "English city" , "City of northern England - castle of southern England" .)