Bradford Council has made a U-turn on its decision to axe the district's biggest music festival.

Two months after announcing the end of Music at Myrtle and Party in the Park in Bingley, the Council has announced the show must go on.

The new two-day event, now called Bingley Live Music, will include fewer A-list acts over the weekend of September 1 and 2.

Instead, it will concentrate on giving local artists a platform to showcase their talents.

The Saturday night will welcome big-name bands, which residents may have to pay to see, and will culminate in a fireworks display. A headline band will also lead up-and-coming performers at Sunday's event, which is expected to be free.

Bingley Councillor Robin Owens, who becomes the new Lord Mayor of Bradford next week, said the district had the people of Bingley to thank for the turn-about.

He said: "I had a very large amount of e-mails and phone calls from people in Bingley, offering help to continue the event. I put these forward to the portfolio holder and said these people want to help. This is down to the people of Bingley."

More than a dozen people from the town have been instrumental in drumming up business and possible bands and acts are being explored.

Coun Owens said: "I have been putting the Council in touch with up-and-coming bands. It is great we have got a live event which will give people a great opportunity to show what they can do."

The revamp was necessary after The Pulse radio station pulled the plug on its support for the event. Previously, the company had organised the paid-for Sunday event.

Another factor was that numbers of people attending have dwindled since the festival started 16 years ago.

The executive member for the environment and culture, Coun Anne Hawkes-worth, said the Council had always been committed to continuing the music extravaganza.

Coun Hawkesworth would not spill the beans on headline acts which may feature this year, but admitted home-grown talent, such as Gareth Gates and even the Kaiser Chiefs, could be approached as well as tribute bands.

"We are really looking forward to creating a musical weekend that will appeal to all ages and attract people from across the district, with great acts of the calibre of Ocean Colour Scene," she said. Ocean Colour Scene starred last year along with McFly and Tasmin Archer.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "We want people to come to Myrtle Park and be entertained and we are sure that this weekend will provide the fun atmosphere and quality music that will entertain everyone and bring a huge audience to Bingley."

But Labour Leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said it had been a "disastrous mistake" to axe the original programme of events.

"I am concerned it is going to be a scaled-down event, but collectively we will support it," he said.

Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said: "It is a disappointment that The Pulse radio pulled out. I have gone over the years and enjoyed the event.

"I am pleased young, local talent are being given this opportunity and we all look forward to the event.

"It is just a different kind of event. I think people will go because they enjoy the experience."