CARNIVAL goers are being urged to take to the streets and give generously as one of Otley's major annual events returns after a year's absence.

Otley Carnival celebrates its 20th birthday this year, but this year's event will only be the 19th carnival, because of last year's cancellation during the foot and mouth disease crisis.

Organisers last year took the decision to call off the event, as the main carnival field is on agricultural land at Bridge End, and they feared bringing crowds into the area could spread the disease.

But Otley Carnival Comm-ittee hopes the party spirit will catch on come Saturday June 15, as this year's carnival falls so soon after the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Carnival publicity secretary, Bryan Dexter, said: "We're hoping for a big carnival this year.

"It's the Queen's Golden Jubilee and hopefully people will catch the mood."

He asked for townspeople to support the event by taking part, coming along on the day, and by donating to the collectors in the parade and on the carnival field.

"It might surprise people to know that that it costs £5,000 to put on the carnival.

"I don't think too many people realise its run by a committee of volunteers," said Mr Dexter.

Police estimated that the 2000 Otley Carnival - held on one of the hottest days of that year - attracted more than 30,000, and Mr Dexter says organisers are hoping for another successful event.

Nine bands have already offered their musical services for the parade, and the organisers may set up a separate area on the main carnival field for all-day music.

More than ten floats are also set to join in the parade, and Mr Dexter said that all the schools in Otley hope to participate in the carnival.

This year's beneficiaries will be Farnley C of E School, and Otley Parish Church Scouts and Guides Parents and Friends Association.

Events on the field will include a falconry display by the Yorkshire Dales Falconry and Conservation Centre, of Settle.

And instead of seeking a new carnival queen, the organisers decided to officially 'crown' last year's chosen carnival queen, Melanie Smith, of Otley, who was unable to take up her term of office, as last year's event was cancelled.

She will be joined by last year's chosen deputy carnival queen, Emily Scorfield.

Mr Dexter said the carnival lost a few hundred pounds in the cancellation last year, but he feels this was essential to avoid any risk of spreading foot and mouth among Wharfedale's farms.

He said: "It was the right decision.

"It was upsetting to a lot of people, but Otley is a country town.

"If any outbreak had happened following the carnival, we wouldn't have been able to live with ourselves."

The carnival was able to rely on special contingency funds to get going again, and was able to honour its promise of making donations to last year's planned beneficiaries, even without the event going ahead.

The decision has also been taken to move the event back to a Saturday, after several years of holding Sunday carnivals.

The event was first moved Sundays for several years because the Bridge End Auction Mart - now closed - had sales on Sundays.

Anyone who would like to put on a float or who wants more details on the carnival can contact parade organiser Diana Allan on (01943) 462498.