Townsfolk are being urged to do their bit to help Shipley go MAD in May.

The Shipley MAD Festival 2000 - MAD stands for music, arts and dance - runs from May 12 to 21 with local people being asked to come up with their own ideas on how to make it go with a swing.

Meanwhile, budding DJs are being sought to help put Shipley Community Radio (SCR) back on the airwaves for the duration of the festival with local businesses asked to donate prizes for various competitions. Entertainment during last year's festival ranged from a fire-eating juggler and Morris dancers to live music, poetry and children's fun day.

Shipley town centre manager Bob Parker said: "We want to expand the festival this year and get it out into the districts. We want community groups to get involved and organise their own bit of May 'MADness' and it's possible we may be able to finance part of it. In the past we've had artists going into local schools as part of the festival and we're hoping to do that again as well.''

Throughout last year's festival a host of volunteers helped keep locals up to date with what was going on via SCR.

And the exercise is to be repeated this year, giving people a chance to make and present their own radio programmes.

As well as DJs and presenters people are needed to help out behind the scenes and come up with ideas for programmes.

Anyone with ideas for the festival, those wishing to organise an event or get involved with SCR should call Mr Parker or Karl Huntbach on (01274) 757136.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.