Keighley's gala procession is under threat this summer due to lack of involvement by local groups.

Gala chairman Brian Hudson fears many groups will not take part due to difficulties finding lorries.

He believes less people are turning out to watch the parade each year because there are less and less participants.

Mr Hudson said: "If the gala's like it was last year, it's going to be the last. We may not get a parade.

"We just can't afford it -- we need the money, we need more people in the parade to attract people to watch."

Mr Hudson has urged people, particularly schools and uniformed youth groups, to join in the July 1 parade through Keighley.

The date has been changed from late May to tie in with Keighley Festival and make it easier for schools to get involved.

Mr Hudson wants people to walk the two-mile route if they cannot find lorries, or use tractors and trailers instead.

He said: "A lot of local firms have told drivers not to use their lorries as floats.

"If you add all the costs to the lorry owners -- fuel and insurance is not cheap and people can't afford their own insurance for the lorries.

"People ask us to pay their insurance but we can't afford it. People are just getting clobbered."

Mr Hudson did not believe anyone had been injured in the Keighley Gala possession in the past.

"A lot of it is just common sense," he said.

"If the lorries' engines start up, it's up to you to get to a safe place. It's up to the people in charge of a float."

Mr Hudson said the gala committee might look at using tractors and trailers.

He added: "The main object of the parade is to show off the new Gala Queen -- since the 1400s they have had a May Queen in Keighley.

"We can walk the kids in fancy dress -- that's going back to the tradition. We need school involvement."

Mr Hudson, chairman for many years, has repeatedly warned of dangers to the annual gala.

He has cited rising costs, difficulty finding members for the organising committee, stone-throwing attacks on the procession and less people paying to enter Victoria Park. Last year the gala was threatened by an arson attack on its equipment store in Victoria Park.

Following the 2005 gala's poor turnout, Mr Hudson blasted Keighley people's apathy and selfishness.

Howard Packer, manager of the Victoria Hotel, in Cavendish Street, this week pointed out that the England soccer team might be playing a World Cup quarter-final match the same afternoon as the procession.

Mr Hudson was not worried by the potential clash and said the gala day could not be moved because fairground rides had been booked and the Keighley Festival dates were set.

The festival will for the first time begin the day after the gala, with both organising committees publicising each other's events.

Mr Hudson said: "Working with the festival is going reasonably well -- some of its groups will have floats in the gala and the co-oporation between us is working."