Otley'S Victorian Fayre could return this year as a four-day spectacular.

Ambitious plans to expand the one day fayre into four days and move it from its usual December slot to November are under way.

The newly-formed committee is looking at themed days, including a Victorian day and a spirit of Christmas day.

It also hopes to close Boroughgate for all four days and tie the event in with the turning on of the Christmas lights.

Run across four days from the last Thursday in November, there will be a children's funfair in Boroughgate and markets in the Market Place and late night opening on two nights.

Plans also include a drive through of the town of vintage vehicles, a Victorian concert in the civic centre and a firework display on the last day.

On Tuesday, at the well attended annual general meeting of the fayre committee, new chairman, Councillor Nigel Francis said he wanted to look into expanding the event.

"One of the things that traders have said to me is that the first week in December should be their busiest time, so by moving it back a week, it should mean more business for the town," he said.

And he added although it was an ambitious plan, he was sure Otley could cope.

"There are three things that we can't control, the cost of closing the roads, the public liability insurance and the weather, and we shall have to look at all of them."

The meeting, which was attended by 20 people, heard that the cancellation of last year's event, due to the threatened fire fighters strike, could have worked in the event's favour by bringing it to the notice of more people.

Mike Gittins, outgoing chairman, said he was delighted that so many people had attended the meeting.

"Every year for the last three years we've had problems in getting people. Last year I resorted to going around the pubs putting up notices asking for help," he said.

The committee, because the proper fayre was replaced by the vastly scaled down Spirit of Christmas Day, has more than £2,000 left towards this year's event.

Mr Gittins warned that one of the new committee's biggest cost would be the public liability insurance - that the committee would need to take out in case of accidents.

"We are living in an increasingly litigious society and public liability insurance is something that the new committee will have to look at very carefully.

"Insurance rates are getting increasingly expensive and I think it will be difficult to even get a quote for this year."

The next meeting of the fayre committee is due to take place on Tuesday, March 11 from 7.30pm at The Red Lion, Kirkgate, Otley.

l What do you think of the four-day plans for the Otley Victorian Fayre? Will it help revivie the traditional event or is apathy in the town too prevailant? Write to Wharfedale Observer, 9 Orchard Gate, Otley.