RESIDENTS in Clayton will gather to celebrate a decade of the village's Dickensian Market and leave a permanent tribute to two of its most prominent founding members this weekend.

Michael and Jean McGann, affectionately known locally as the '"Lord and Lady Mayoress of Clayton," both died in 2012, but members of the Dickensian Market Committee are to plant a tree and memorial stone in their honour in Victoria Park at 10am on Saturday.

Organisers say they want to use the tenth anniversary of the event, which has been held on the first Saturday of every December since 2005, to raise funds for their three chosen charities in honour of the McGanns.

Committee member Lydia Horsman said: "This year is a very special occasion, and we want to raise as much money as possible to celebrate.

"Sadly, both of our founding members did not survive to see us reach this milestone, but the tree and memorial will be a lasting reminder."

The market was borne out of the McGann's dream of having a Dickensian Fair in the village, and the first event took place on a council allotment with only a handful of stalls.

Since then, the event has gone from strength to strength and the market committee has raised £40,000 for various causes, with the money from this year's event to be split between Manorlands hospice in Oxenhope, Lilies Grace, and Clayton Village Hall.

Lydia said she first met the McGanns in 2006 when she began fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support, a project that included a successful trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in 2007.

"When Mick and Jean found out about my fundraising they became a wonderful support to be me and instrumental in helping me to raise as much as possible," she said.

"They arranged for me to have a stall at the market, and Jean approached local businesses and got me raffle prizes and sponsorship.

"Mick got me an interview with the local radio station and even came with me on the day to make sure I wasn't too nervous.

"He kept me smiling with his jokes, which were never in short supply."

Mr McGann was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in July 2011, and immediately set about trying to raise £10,000 for ground-breaking stem cell research.

He died in May 2012, but alongside other family members, his wife ensured he reached his target later that year, before she died of cancer that August.

"They're time with us was too short, but the market will continue based on the ethos and principles they set down of work, fun, and laughter," said Lydia.

"I will never forget what they did for me, they were such generous, wonderful people."

This year's event, which is set to feature more than 100 stalls and attract somewhere in the region of 6,000 visitors, will take place in and around Victoria Park on Saturday, December 6.