Charities are set to lose out after heavy rain hit Keighley's millennium gala.

Saturday evening's downpour forced organisers to abandon the planned fireworks extravaganza and curtail other activities. The firework display was eventually held on Monday evening.

Leaders warn that this year's gala - the 124th - could now struggle to break even.

Over the years thousands of pounds has been raised for local charitable causes at the showpiece event.

Chairman Brian Hudson said: "We are all extremely disappointed. There was no way the fireworks could go ahead on Saturday night, and other things had to finish early because it was absolutely throwing it down. Lakes were forming in some parts of the park.

"We might just break even, but there is not likely to be any money for charity, which is very sad.

"Takings were probably around £3,000, whereas normally we would need more than twice that to make the event pay," he added.

"I feel particularly disheartened for those people who put so much effort over many months into planning and staging the gala - their work is often unseen by the public, yet it is essential.

"We had, for example, a small team working all day last Friday in the rain putting up fencing and getting other things on the field ready. Without such dedication there would not be a gala."

Mr Hudson said: "The Gala Queen and her retinue spent tea time at Airedale Hospital visiting some of the elderly patients and really brightening their day."

Saturday's events began with the crowning in Town Hall Square of Gala Queen Holly Booth. She was attended by Deputy Queen Tanya Gunputh, Junior Queen Shakara Ahad, Princess Natasha Evans, Rosebud Rebecca Morris and Pageboy Dominic Stansfield.

Also in Town Hall Square there was a traditional Punch and Judy show and a street performer.

The procession - which set off from Malsis Road at 2pm - featured an array of colourful floats by local organisations. There were also majorettes, bands, vintage wagons, emergency vehicles and trade floats.

Attractions at Victoria Park included the funfair, Creature Features, the world-famous Van Burens Magic Show, clowns Bozo and Zizi, and a junior five-a-side football competition.

There was also entertainment from the Keighley Comets and the International Majorettes, a martial arts demonstration and disco dancing.

Stalls included a Keighley News promotional stand and the Keighley Sub-Aqua Club.

Procession results were: Tableau (open) - 1 Tierney School of Irish Dancing with "End of the Rainbow", 2 Keighley Sub-Aqua Club, 3 Keighley Cougars; Tableau (U12s) - 1 1st Keighley Brownies with "Cleopatra", 2 Braithwaite and Guard House Community Association with "Worth Valley Railway", 3 Stepping Stones Playgroup with "Roll Play".

Advertising - 1 Keighley Auto Painting, 2 AMF Bowl, 3 Dogs Body and Friends; Cars - 1 White Rose Garage; Veteran Vehicles - 1 HGV Foden (T Barlow), 2 Morrison's van; Gala Queens - 1 Silsden, 2 Glusburn and Cross Hills; Youth Club/Sunday School Queen - 1 1st Keighley Brownies; Reeday Trophy - Great Northern Cars; Dawson Rose Bowl - 1st Keighley Brownies; £100 prize for best tableau on theme of "Events in Keighley Over the Last 100 Years" - Braithwaite and Guard House Community Association.

Fancy dress - 1 Christopher Stevenson (Buzz Lightyear), 2 Thomas and Louise Gatehouse (Peter Pan and Barbie), 3 Tony Bond (Joseph).

Winner of mobile phone donated by Worth Communications - Diane Mapplebeck.

U8s five-a-side football (sponsored by Airedale Shopping Centre) for Geoffrey Reeday Shield - Oakworth beat Eastburn 4-2 in final.

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