SETTLE Sheep Shambles organisers have made a plea for more financial support from local people and businesses.

With the event now only five weeks away, one of the seven-strong team of organisers, Helen Firth, of Dawson's Ironmongers, said more funds were needed.

"It's been hard work getting the funding we have so far and at the moment we're looking for about another £1,500," she said. "Although it's not a desperate situation, we would appreciate it if local businesses and people came forward to pledge their support. Settle Sheep Shambles is not just for the tourists, it's also for the people of Settle."

This will be the third year the event has been held in the town and organisers have been trying to make it the most professional yet. Helen's son Mark, a university student in Bradford, has already designed a web page dedicated to the event.

This year there will be a range of events on the market place on the Saturday and Sunday of May 8 and 9, including jugglers, a unicyclist, clowns, magic shows, fire eating and circus routines - not forgetting a sheep auction, sheep shearing and rare breeds.

In the week running up to the event Cecil, the shambles' mascot, will run the first Olympics for his flock. Shops and houses will be decorated for the event and there will be a best dressed sheep competition. Entry forms are available from the town's Spar shop and Dawsons.

On the Saturday, a procession will leave the swimming pool car park at 1pm, making its way to the market place and Bond Lane. And on the Sunday a "Sheep Shuv" will leave the Black Horse Hotel in Giggleswick at 1pm. Teams of men and women will dress as Olympic contenders with a sheep theme and make their way around local pubs.

There will be more attractions on the main field at Bond Lane (not the Grove Park Rugby Club as first planned) with an army aerial slide, assault course and paintball range. There will also be line dancing demonstrations.

Children's attractions on the field include bouncy castles, quad bikes and pony rides and there will be the usual craft and charity stalls as well as sheep dog trials and sheep shearing.

Other events include guided walks along the town trail, organised by the Tourist Information Centre and farm tours to Lower Winskill Farm.

Artistic attractions include an exhibition of photographs at Chapel Street museum, an art exhibition by Catteral Hall at Linton Court Gallery and an display of spinning, knitting and weaving in the parish church.

There will also be free car parking all over the weekend.

* The web page address is come.to/settlesheepshambles and anyone who would like to pledge financial support should contact Helen Firth on 01729 823582.

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