WILD weekend weather across the district failed to halt a string of Christmas lights switch-on events enjoyed by thousands who joined in the festive fun.

Bingley market place was host to a seasonal food market and beer festival on Saturday and chamber of trade chairman Howard Martin said although the event was marred by the weather, it still got a lot of support.

"Attendance was obviously down on the previous year - which was a record breaker.

"But we still had 600 children who came to visit Santa in his grotto and get their free present

"And when we added up the takings on Saturday evening we were only some £200 down on what we took in 2014.

"So people who did come obviously spent quite a bit more, which is nice," he said.

"And when it came to the time of the actual switch on by Rugby League legend Brian Noble our prayers were answered a few minutes before and the heavens stopped their deluge.

"A really special thing was that Priestthorpe Primary School, who were due to perform carols at the Bradford city centre switch-on which was cancelled, came and gave a performance to a big crowd in our marquee.

"Many thanks to chamber of trade members and everyone else who helped make this such a big success."

In Ilkley things got underway when the town's Rock Choir took to the stage at 3.30pm on Saturday, followed by a packed timetable of live entertainment throughout the afternoon, including Joze School of Performing Arts, That Sing Thing, Moornotes Choir and Guiseley Brass Band.

Betty’s cafe and Lishman’s butchers also provided festive refreshments.

Father Christmas travelled in style in an open carriage drawn by two white horses and then joined his parade to the Grove led by Ilkley’s Town Crier Isabel Ashman.

And after Santa had switched on the lights he went straight to work and opened his grotto in Christchurch.

Haworth’s Scroggling the Holly parade on Sunday was hugely popular as folk battled the elements to watch the Victorian-style procession, which welcomes Christmas to the village.

Scroggling the Holly was held as usual at 3pm, when the Holly Queen and her princesses travelled up Main Street on a carriage pulled by a horse, accompanied by Morris dancers and residents dressed in Victorian costume.

The Holly Queen was crowned on the steps of Haworth Parish Church, watched by Santa Claus and the Snow Princess, who have their grotto just inside the church.

Keighley's Christmas countdown kicked off on Sunday when the town's festive lights blazed into life.

The fun started from 11am with be carol singers, stilt walkers, face painting, balloon modelling and fairground rides and culminated with the switching-on of the lights at 4.30pm by X Factor star Josh Daniel.

The 22-year-old singer, who made judge Simon Cowell cry during an audition of the top TV talent show, will be joined by Santa and Keighley mayor Councillor Javaid Akhtar.

Josh, who just missed out on the X Factor live shows, said he was looking forward to visiting Keighley.

"I am really happy to have been asked to come and switch on the Christmas lights at the Airedale Centre," he added.

"It's hard to believe how the last few months have gone for me, from normal working life to entertaining people at events like this!

"It has been a bit of a crazy ride to say the least."

Airedale Shopping Centre manager Steve Seymour said: "It’s always a big event for Keighley when the Christmas lights are switched on, and I am sure that once again we will get a great turn-out on Sunday.

"We are again working in conjunction with the Keighley Town Centre Association and Keighley Town Council – we have pulled out all the stops to make sure there’s another great day for all the family."

Bradford's historical gem Bolling Hall again turned into a Winter Wonderland on Saturday.

Run by local community group Friends of Bowling Park and hosted by the museum, the day long event had something for everyone.

It offered everything from a fairground to live music and from food and drink to Father Christmas himself a the popular event now in its second year.