Ilkley will be thronged with thousands of people on Carnival Day - but Otley will be the opposite on the day of its event.

In the week that Otley cancelled its carnival because of the foot and mouth outbreak, organisers of the Ilkley showpiece forecasted huge crowds.

So much so that people intending to get in the party spirit on May 7 are being asked to get their tickets in advance. A carnival caravan will set up shop on Brook Street, this Saturday and the following Saturday, May 5.

Andrew Munro, chairman of Ilkley Carnival Committee, said: "The more people who buy them before day, the better. It is easier for us and it is easier for them. They can go through the gate at a separate entrance."

Carnival-goers will also benefit from being prepared - as tickets will be cheaper in advance.

They will cost £1.50 for adults and 75p for children and on the gate they will be £2 and £1.

The tickets are also available from Booths supermarket, the Skipton Building Society, the Tourist Information Centre.

Otley suffered its second major blow when the organisers of the town's annual carnival decided to cancel the June 16 event, which last year attracted almost 35,000 people from all over West Yorkshire.

It comes just a month after this year's Otley Show was axed because of the foot and mouth crisis.

Carnival publicity officer Bryan Dexter said the decision had been taken with a heavy heart but after much deliberation the committee decided that holding the carnival this year would not be appropriate.

He said: "Otley is a countryside and farming town and at the end of the day we just couldn't justify bringing in 30,000 people with the foot and mouth crisis still going on.

"If a farm in the town suffered an outbreak immediately after the carnival, we wouldn't be able to live with ourselves.

"We also felt that it was inappropriate to use the field at the back of the auction mart because of the risks. decision.

Guiseley, Horsforth and Yeadon Carnivals will all be going ahead as planned.