More than 1,000 members of Keighley's Scout movement hit the streets for their annual St George's Day parade on Sunday.

The parade, which went from Gresley Road, along Cavendish Street to St Anne's Roman Catholic Church, in North Street, was staged to honour the Scouts' patron saint.

Along with the Scouts, who were in full uniform, there was bell ringing by town criers and a visit by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Allan Hillary, and Keighley town Mayor Councillor Nancy Holdsworth.

Traffic was stopped temporarily for the half-hour parade to the church for a service and back.

During the service there was a pageant to explain the history behind the Scout law and promise.

And the Scouts honoured vice-president Sydney Smith for his 40 years of service to the organisation.

Jeanette Young, commissioner for the Keighley District, said: "It was a very colourful parade, full of beautiful flags and ringing bells."

She added: "The police are very good with us. They came along on the parade, up front and at the back, to direct traffic. They do a great job."

The parade was the climax to a weekend of events in the town organised by Keighley Town Council.

Thousands of people turned out to support the first French market to be held in Keighley.

The French market, which was held in Cavendish Court, added a Continental feeling to the St George's Day celebrations.

Cllr Brian Hudson, who organised the weekend's festivities, was delighted that so many people supported the market. He said even on Friday, which was the market's quietest day, more than 1,000 people browsed through the stalls.

Goods on offer included cheese, mustards, wines, spices, biscuits, crepes, sausages, sweets, bread, garlic and onions.

The street entertainment on Saturday was hailed a success by Cllr Hudson. He said: "We had so many firsts.

"It was the first time that Keighley had been trimmed up to that degree. It was the first St George's celebrations we had had. It was the first French market we had had. It was the first town crier's competition we had had. It was also the first time many had seen the St George's flag flying from a mosque." The flag was flying from the Emily Street Mosque.

Youngsters from the HYT theatre group put on a street play in the Airedale Centre.

The town criers, who each made a cry for different Keighley businesses, held a competition.

Winner was Don Evans, the town crier for West Lancashire, who won by less than half a point from Victor Watson, bellman to the parish of St Peter's, Huddersfield.

Keighley town crier Mike Walton said: "I was so chuffed with everything, not just the town criers who came, but the way that the people of Keighley came to take part and listen to it."

Proceeds from the events, which were marshalled by the Air Cadets, go towards the town council's twinning project with Manzini, in Swaziland, and the town Mayor's charity, Keighley Carers.

Town Mayor Cllr Nancy Holdsworth said: "It was absolutely brilliant. The weather was amazing and everything conspired to go for us."

The funds were boosted by £230 thanks to a bric-a-brac sale by Keighley Rotary Club, outside the bus station.

The balloon release, which had been postponed on Keighley Day because of the bad weather, took place on Saturday afternoon and raised £481.