Local councillors have pledged their support for Keighley Festival despite problems surrounding this year's event.

They feel the festival, which has recently recruited new committee members, will continue to encourage community development and participation in the life of the town. Keighley Area Panel, made up of Bradford councillors representing the town, last week discussed a report on last summer's festival.

Treasurer Jim Pickles told them the 1998 event was the most difficult in the event's 11-year history due to outside pressure, demands on funding and resignations of key officials. He said that despite terrible weather and lack of manpower, many festival events were successful and the fortnight finished with a cash surplus.

Patrick Lawton, the panel's Keighley coordinator, told councillors that the festival has a long and successful history based on good relations between the festival committee, council, police and participants. In his report, he stated: "The events and activities organised reflect to a large extent the cultural and ethnic mix of the local community."

Anne Hawksworth, the panel's Con-servative spokesman, voiced choncerns about the lack of white participants in festival sports events. She felt it was divisive to divide events into Asian and non-Asian participants.

She encouraged cricket teams to unite to organise a festival cricket jamboree, and added: "This could truly be an event for all."

Cllr Hawksworth spoke out after it was revealed the festival committee had not been able to achieve their plan for multi-cultural sporting events.

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