Thousands of youngsters will enjoy a fun-packed summer with the launch of the first Keighley Children's Festival.

Aimed at boosting trade by attracting more families into the town centre during the summer holidays, the festival will feature a host of free activities and entertainment.

The initiative is being organised by Keighley's Town Centre Management Group.

It features a week-long arts festival from July 12 and a series of six Friday fun days between July 23 and August 27.

If the event - which will cost some £16,000 and is being funded through Keighley's Single Regeneration Budget and donations from the business community - proves successful and wins enough backing from local traders the group hopes to make it even bigger next year.

The five-day Children's Art Festival will feature school pupils' works of art on display in shop windows throughout the town centre as well as drama, music and poetry performances.

The first of the Friday fun days, which run 10.30am-3.30pm, is for the under-fives with the rest aimed at those aged four-12. Activities will be staged at various locations around the town and feature all kinds of things such as: face-painting, a litter awareness roadshow, the chance to meet and ride on working horses.

, a radio-controlled car event, balloon modelling and giant board games.

Workshops will cover circus skills and music with Gawthorpe Brass '85, while youngsters will also be able to have their bikes security-marked and checked for safety.

There will additional indoor entertainment provided by the Airedale Shopping Centre on the same Fridays.

Businesses wishing to sponsor the festival should call Wendy Benson on 01535 618003. The Keighley News will keep readers informed of developments and more definite details nearer the time.

Opinion, page 10

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