A celebratory Ilkley Complementary Medicine Festival this month will have a special local focus as it marks 25 years since the first event in the town.

The first complementary medicine festival took place in Ilkley in 1988, and present-day organiser, Michael Weaver, has been working with local therapists to add a new and local feel to the region’s top festival of its type.

Ilkley is the working base for more than 60 complementary therapists and therapy centres - 20 of these have responded to the invitation to co-operate on the new stand of ‘Therapists of Ilkley…together…’ at the 25th Ilkley Complementary Medicine Festival, on Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24.

Mr Weaver said he was thrilled to be approached with the proposal to promote the huge range of therapies available actually in Ilkley.

He said: “There have always been a few Ilkley therapists exhibiting at the Festival, but this focus on what is available to local people here all year round is a wonderful addition.”

The ‘Therapists of Ilkley…together… ‘ group will be sharing a triple stand upstairs in the Winter Gardens throughout the festival weekend.

The festival will be open from 10am to 5pm, admissions is £4 for adults, £3.50 concessions, and children under 16 are admitted free. A two day pass costs £5.50.