Ilkley should challenge for the 'sponsorship in bloom' awards this year.

That's the verdict of tourist management committee secretary Miggy Bailey, who is worried about the town being swamped by advertising.

She is unhappy with the proliferation of sponsored flower beds and litter bins and feels the signs are becoming an eyesore.

"We have sponsored flower beds at the moment, but you have to wonder where it will eventually spread to," she said.

"Will we eventually have individual sponsorship plaques nailed to all the trees along The Grove?"

Mrs Bailey said she would be interested to hear the thoughts of other Ilkley-based organisations.

Bob Tilley, chairman of Ilkley Civic Society, says the situation is 'out of control.' He said The Grove was now 'over-binned' and it was of concern that sponsored features were taking up so much space in the town's conservation area.

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