A Keighley Festival boss is considering resigning following the poor response to this year's nine-day event.

Disheartened chairman Peter Halliwell says local people stayed away in droves from high-profile attractions.

He says it is vital that more people come forward to help organise the festival if it is to be successful in future years.

Important tasks such as administration and publicising the festival's 28 activities were neglected because there were not enough helpers.

The events were also hit by bad weather, rising costs, lack of support from local businesses and non-appearance of groups who had promised to take part.

Several events lost money and the festival committee - made up entirely of volunteers - is unsure whether it will break even.

Mr Halliwell admits: "Everything went pear-shaped. We were kicked in the teeth on everything. People in Keighley just aren't bothered."

Keighley Festival is funded almost entirely with a £14,000 grant from Bradford council through Keighley Area Panel.

Half the money was spent on the main nine-day festival, which ended last Sunday, and the rest will go on this weekend's Asian mela.

Mr Halliwell says most of the work of organising this year's festival fell to three people: long-serving treasurer Jim Pickles, old time dance organiser Maurice Bassinder and himself.

A handful of other people, such as rock singer John Gow and members of Keighley Asian Sports Association, ran individual events.

Mr Halliwell has already been in talks with the Keighley Area Panel office and has been promised support for next year's event.

The hope is that new blood can be found and efforts made to involve every community in Keighley.

Mr Halliwell says: "If there were more people to take the burden from us it would be better."

The Field of Fur and Feather, in Victoria Park last Sunday, was marred by a gang of children who threw stones and bottles at the birds of prey as they sat on their perches.

The boys and girls, aged around nine, also kicked ferret cages during their rampage through the show arena.

Mr Halliwell says: "The organisers had to take their birds home. It wasn't a good advertisement for Keighley."

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