Christmas is coming, though the goose won't get fat for several months.

Keighley Amateurs will celebrate December 25 this year on October 14.

The society is presenting the musical version of Charles Dickens' classic story A Christmas Carol.

Scrooge was a West End hit and successfully toured the UK with stars such as Anthony Newley and Stratford Johns.

In the Keighley production, the title role will be played by Peter Whitley, star of previous local musicals such as Me and My Girl and Oliver!.

Other familiar faces in the cast include Richard Aldham, Rachel MacMahon, Anthony Waddington and Louise Hindle-Barton.

Keith Marsden, the producer, says there is also an "eager bunch of young hopefuls" aged from eight to 13 playing street urchins and Bob Cratchit's family.

He says: "These boys and girls have been rehearsing under the watchful eye of choreographer Patsy Peacock since early June.

"They should fully justify the Amateurs' admirable youth policy of recent years."

Mr Marsden promises a show for the whole family when Scrooge is performed from October 14-19 at Victoria Hall.

He says: "There are lots of laughs, a few ghostly thrills and more than a few tugs at the heartstrings."

The show runs each evening at 7.15pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.15pm.

Tickets can be bought from Keighley Information Centre in the town hall, or by phoning 01535 652547.