WAR re-enactments, cycle rides, vintage cars and a family festival were among the varied events attracting visitors this weekend in the Bradford district.

The opening weekend of the two-week Saltaire Festival was packed with curious and inquiring crowds, said the event's deputy chairman, Julie Hemmings.

"It's been really busy with the Promenade, the open gardens and the arts trail and people are well prepared for the weather - this is Yorkshire!

"Children did the treasure hunt around Roberts Park and their maps may have been a bit soggy, but they had fun racing round in their wellies," she said.

"And a lot of people come to look at the open gardens and they're not put off by a bit of rain, they enjoy it whatever."

This year's Festival has a lot of strong drama and music events running through the coming fortnight.

"We've got a great Comedy Night at the Caroline Club this year and tickets for that and other events are performances are still available, although they are selling out fast," Miss Hemmings said.

The wet start to the weekend also failed to dampen spirits on Saturday as 200 cyclists, aged from 14 to mid 60s, took part in the Otley Sportive social bike ride event.

Three different routes were ridden to suit cyclists of different abilities. Starting and finishing at Otley, they ranged from 22 miles, through 50 miles, to the longest ride at 76 miles.

Luke Minshall, director of organisers True Cycling, said the number of cyclists turning out had been good considering the poor weather.

"It's good to see cyclists out enjoying each other's company and enjoying the event. They are still in good spirits despite getting soaked.

"It's great there is continued support for events like this. Yet again, Yorkshire is on the map for a high quality cycle event.

"The riders have done us proud. Sometimes you can have a bit of road rage with motorists having to deal with so many cyclists, but there have been no issues today because of good organisation and the behaviour of the riders who were given the routes before the event and stuck to them," he said.

"We have had kids, women and men out there. It shows events like this are attracting different people."

In Birstall, around 200 English Civil War Society members recreated a famous battle on Saturday.

The re-enactment, at Oakwell Hall, Birstall, of the Battle of Adwalton Moor, involved the use of men on horseback, and fighting with muskets, cannon and pike.

The original battle was fought a mile from Oakwell Hall in 1643 and was won by the Royalists.

The show was the feature of a weekend of living history at the historic hall, which also included a military camp on the front lawn with demonstrations of wood turning and 17th century punishments; a portrayal in the hall of family members and servants, including a large family meal in the dining hall to illustrate what and how they ate 400 years ago; and a court of justice dealing with supposed miscreants.

Oakwell Hall's heritage manager Eric Brown said hundreds of visitors had turned up, despite heavy rain.

"The feedback from visitors has been fabulous and I hope they spread the word," he said.

"The English Civil War Society has been brilliant to work with. They have been able to provide knowledge and learning about life in the 17th century, and the battle itself was really spectacular."

On Sunday, the annual Otley Vintage Transport Extravaganza enjoyed record breaking numbers.

Organiser Nigel Francis said it was not only visitors who had arrived en masse.

"We had at some 700 vehicles, everything from motorbikes to buses and ten steam engines and had to turn away about a hundred cars who wanted to come because we were full up.

"And we're really up on numbers through the gate.

"People now know this is a great value for money day out, with lots of transport to see, but also things like our pets zoo for children and lots of stalls. That means people can come and spend four hours and nobody gets bored," Mr Francis said.

The increasingly popular extravaganza is now in its 20th year and owes its success to hard work and giving people what they want, Mr Francis said.