Seen it, climbed it, painted it. Rock climber John Allcock is among the artists taking part in the Open House scheme as part of Bradford Internation-al Festival.

His pastel drawings, called Chalk on Rock and reflecting the great outdoors, are on show at his home in Broadfolds House, Chrisharben Park, Clayton, throughout this week.

Yorkshire gritstone scenery is featured along with landscapes from Switzerland and the Peak District.

Dr Allcock, pictured, a former physiology teacher at Bradford University, said: "I am always sketching - obviously not at the same time as I am climbing! - but I also take photos too and turn them into drawings.

"I would be very interested to hear what other climbers make of them."

They are on show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-noon and 2pm-4pm.

The Open House programme is aimed at giving members of the public the chance to meet local artists face to face to discuss their work.

At lunchtime yesterday music was being played from the stage in Centenary Square and there were curry and outdoor food stalls for an al fresco lunchtime.

Parvaiz Tabassum, in charge of the curry stall run by the Aakash Restaurant in Cleckheaton, said: "There is always a lovely laid-back attitude during the festival week which makes it feel special in town and we wanted to be part of that."

Yesterday afternoon there was a performance by the award-winning theatre group Mind the... gap theatre company at City Hall.

The magnificent building was a backdrop for the re-enactment of the fable with the Council Chamber converted into the Emperor's bedroom.

It was the latest in the group's trend of taking theatre into non-theatre spaces and making it more accessible.

City Hall was picked for its natural theatrical grandeur.

"We are offering everyone the chance to see the corridors of power as they've never been seen before," said director Tim Wheeler. "And there are a few surprises along the way."

The Poppets Puppets entertained with Moist - the Wet Weather Show with powerjets to soak the audience.

They were inspired by last year when it rained solid for two days so they decided to bring bad weather with them to defy the June sunshine.

Puppeteer Tony Liddington, said: "We brought a powerjet to make sure the audience gets wet."