Craven plans to see in the new Millennium with a year-long celebration focusing on its Celtic past, its environmental heritage and the richness of its arts.

The climax will be a parade of 2,000 giant lanterns, in the shape of clocks, recalling the Christmas processions of medieval times.

And to celebrate the district's artistic strength there are plans for a Battle of the Bands - a two day competition culminating in an open air concert in Skipton's Aireville park in summer 2000.

Craven District Council has already submitted its plans for approval by the Millennium Lottery Fund organisers.

Councillors expect to learn if they have been shortlisted for around £30,000 funding by mid-November, and if the plans have been successful by the start of 1999.

Councillor Tony Kennedy, community development committee chairman, said: "The Millennium celebrations will be a series of linked events which celebrate the past, present and future of Craven, with emphasis on its location, image and culture.

"We want to involve as many people as possible across the spectrum of age and interest and we want them to actually participate rather than stand back as spectators.''

The past is to be celebrated with the Celtic Craven project, the present via the lanterns, Gallery in the Sky and Battle of the Bands and future by the Craven Visions project.

Part of the Celtic celebrations, spearheaded by Craven's museum's service, will be a living history display including a recreation of a battle between Brigantians and Romans in Aireville Park, Skipton.

The Gallery in the Sky will involve the flying of 200 kites, handmade by Craven communities and showing ambitions for the future, flown in spring and summer of 2000.

Craven Visions aims to encourage local communities to create ideas for their development into the new Millennium.

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