Thousands of people are set to descend on Ilkley on Monday for the town's annual carnival.

And organisers are calling on people to help make this year's carnival - the biggest single event on Ilkley's calendar - a roaring success by raising a record amount of cash for worthy causes.

A procession of floats, based on a cartoon theme, is due to make its way through the town to the carnival ground, after leaving The Grove's junction with Kings Road at 12.45pm.

And the carnival itself runs from noon to 5pm at East Holmes Field, off Denton Road.

Entertainment includes a display by the Royal Artillery Parachute Team, a demonstration of jousting and medieval hand-to-hand combat by The Freelancers and a visit by Bradford Bulls players. Other attractions are set to include a visit by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, a falconry display, a funfair, cartoon-based fancy dress competition and a host of stalls.

The event is also due to feature the final of a primary schools five-a-side football tournament, launched last year and staged in memory of carnival committee stalwart Jeffrey Martin who died in 2000.

Proceeds from the carnival will benefit charities and clubs providing sporting activities for young people in the Ilkley area.

Carnival chairman Andrew Munro said they were hoping for fine weather to help make this year's event the biggest and best ever. He said: "We normally get between 17,000 and 20,000 at the carnival and are hoping for at least 20,000 this year - we're hoping it will be the biggest and best carnival yet. We raised £10,000 for various sports organisations last year and hope to make even more this time round."

Carnival-goers are being advised to arrive early for the event to avoid the anticipated traffic congestion in and around the town. Admission is £3 for adults, £1 for children aged three to 13 and senior citizens, and free for the under-threes.

Last year's carnival was one of the few events to actually benefit from the foot and mouth crisis. With the agricultural show calendar decimated, and a lack of alternative events, the carnival was the Wharfe Valley's only major community event, ensuring it was a roaring success.