THE team in charge of Keighley's Airedale Shopping Centre has invited local residents on a trip down memory lane as part of the centre's 50th birthday this year.

People are being encouraged to dig out their photo albums and memorabilia of days gone by at the centre, going back to when it opened in 1968.

The donated pictures and memorabilia will be exhibited in the centre’s showcase window as part its official birthday weekend, which takes place on Saturday May 19 and Sunday May 20.

Steve Seymour, Airedale Shopping Centre manager, said: “We’re really looking forward to revisiting Airedale’s history.

"It’s going to be wonderful looking back at archive photos and families’ snaps. Perhaps someone even has a very old memento bought at the centre that has been kept over the years.

"It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how much it has changed over the last five decades."

A specially-designed, life-size birthday card will be the backdrop for the exhibition of memorabilia and all items donated.

Paul Howard, Keighley Business Improvement District (BID) manager, said: “Throughout the life of the BID, the Airedale Shopping Centre has been a key supporter of our projects.

"It has provided an excellent all-weather events space for a number of our activities including the popular ‘Indoor Beach – Keighley by the Sea’.

“We're delighted to play a small part in the story of this key community facility, which has been a social meeting point for generations of shoppers."

Mr Seymour added: “This anniversary is as much about the people of Keighley as it is the centre.

"We hope many people play an important role in preparing for the celebrations. It’s going to be a fantastic event and we’ll be sharing details of the centre’s golden anniversary weekend in the coming weeks.”

For those who would like to submit an item to the memorabilia exhibition, send it to Louise Scott at louise.scott@bewonder.co.uk

Visit airedaleshoppingcentre.co.uk for more information on the centre’s birthday celebrations.