WORKERS' play time is the theme of this year's Saltaire World Heritage Weekend when fun and learning will combine to draw thousands of visitors the famous village.

And celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal's opening, one of its major attractions will be the historic narrow boat moored beside the Victoria Road bridge.

Canal & River Trust volunteers will also be demonstrating some of the games and pastimes enjoyed by bargees and their children in days long gone by.

The waterway, the nearby River Aire, Roberts Park and Shipley Glen with its tramway made the village not only an example of good housing, but also a popular Victorian tourist attraction where workers from Bradford and beyond flocked to escape the mills and other industry.

Shipley College has helped train a group of special guides armed with a wealth of historical facts who will be stationed along the route of walks from the United Reformed Church to, and also from, Bracken Hall Countryside above Shipley Glen.

A cafe will also be run at the URC, where artifacts and curios from the Saltaire Archive will also be on display.

Activities in the park involve a chain-saw wood carving destination, the magic of croquet, Art in the Park creative sessions which take place in the bandstand and there will also be a new event of Archery Tag in the field beside Shipley Glen tramway, which will ferrying passengers daily.

"Archery Tag involves people getting into teams and takes place in Thompson Field," said heritage weekend organiser Rob Martin.

"I think it's a bit like paintballing, but with bows and specially-safe foam tipped arrows, and you don't get covered with paint!"

The Heritage Weekend, now in its sixth year, will also be visited by the Kilnsey Park alpacas on Saturday reminding folk of the luxurious wool which made Saltaire such a booming industrial success.

Helen Thornton, Bradford Council’s World Heritage Site Officer, said: "We hope as many people as possible will join us to celebrate Saltaire’s place among the elite group of global heritage locations.

"It has a fascinating and unique history which we are keen to share with everyone.”

The guided walks on Saturday set off simultaneously from the URC and Bracken Hall at 11am and then at 1pm.

On Sunday they are from the URC at 12pm and 2pm and from Bracken Hall at 11am and then at 1pm.

Elsewhere, Haworth Beer Festival takes place in the Old School Room, Church Street, with gallons of fine ales and ciders on offer from 4pm today.

And tomorrow more than 50 'super heroes' including the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Joanne Dodds will abseil down the city's McMillan Tower to raise money for her Spread a Smile Appeal.