The 127th Keighley Gala has been declared a grand success, on a grand day, with a grand in cash.

For kindly folk answered the call and dug deep at the weekend to boost charity takings to more than £1,000. Almost £800 was also raised selling tickets for the balloon race sponsored by the Keighley News.

Gala chairman Brian Hudson said: "It was an excellent day. The crowd numbers may have been slightly down, as were the number of floats, but the street collection was up.

"We couldn't have asked for a better day."

Thousands of families basked in glorious sunshine as the 127th gala made its way from Malsis Road to Victoria Park, Keighley.

Keighley town councillors put on a united front, walking the route with collecting tins.

Keighley Mayor Councillor Nancy Holdsworth said: "What a wonderful day. It was so nice to see so many people enjoying themselves. It is a real community event and I must congratulate the organisers."

After the gala parade reached the park, Gala Queen Jade Marshall and her retinue, junior queen Zoe Ashworth, princesses Zoe Cubitt and her younger sister Katie, and pageboy Ethan Allan, went to Airedale Hospital.

Added Brian: "We normally visit three wards, mainly to see the elderly patients. We take the gala to them, as it were.

"This time we visited five wards. It was amazing and a very moving occasion."

Organisers are now looking at next year's event and exploring ways of extending insurance cover for floats.

Explained Brian: "A few years ago someone fell from a lorry during a parade and subsequently took legal action. As a result it is extremely difficult to get insurance cover for such floats. If we are to attract more entries we will have to look at how we can raise the insurance premiums."

Gala results:

Best tableau - open: 1, Hi-Energy; 2, Cavendish Lodge Nursery; 3, Keighley Cougars.

Best under 12s tableau: 1, Hainworth Community Centre; 2, Hainworth Entertainment Committee (1940s evacuees).

Best trade advertising commercial vehicle: 1, Bev-bridal Shop; 2, SNA printing.

Best tableau on a commercial vehicle entered by business concern: 1, Sequins Fancy Dress Hire; 2, Bradford Council Markets Service.

Best trade exhibit: 1, Balti House; 2, Inkjets-R-Us; 3, Speedline.

Best presented veteran vehicles: 1, Foden recovery vehicle; 2, Dave's classic wedding car; 3, Vintage bus.

Fancy dress - children: 1, Christopher Stephenson; adult - Shirley Stephenson.

Best presented horse drawn vehicle: 1, Haworth Riders for the Disabled; 2, Bradford Horses at Work.

Entertainment: 1, Silver Star Stompers; 2, Bradford Pipe Band; 3, Eclipse Jazz Band.

Gala Queens: 1, Prestwich Carnival Queens; 2, Blackrock Gala Queens; 3, North Manchester Junior Queen.

Majorettes: 1, Keighley Comets.

Youth clubs: 1, Hainworth Community Centre; 2, 1st Keighley Brownies.

Best overall prize: Haworth Entertainment Committee 1940s weekend -- evacuees.