THERE is a special place in every little girl's imagination for fairies.

Perhaps it is the hint that they populate not only the realm of fiction but every magic-looking dell, wood and glen.

Or their central role, ranking only alongside Santa, in the myths of childhood.

Few parents would deny their child a visit from the tooth fairy, or neglect to place a fairy on the top of their Christmas tree.

Many graduate from childhood refusing to relinquish their belief in magic fairy circles and that wishes may be granted with the wave of a wand.

Mentioning the subject to my colleague, Sam, she floated off into her dim and distant past and became quite

serious.

In a half whisper she told me her strongly-held conviction that if you say that fairies do not exist one will die.

The case of the Cottingley fairies also bears testament to the levels of faith in the tiny, winged creatures.

A large section of Victorian England was prepared to believe that two young girls had photographed fairies at the bottom of their garden.

Spellbound, the myth was only broken years later when they revealed the photographs were fake.

One woman who has refused to let go of her belief in fairies is now making magic her business.

Amelia Whittaker, of Ilkley, is making her own fairy-tale success hosting fairy parties for young children.

Amelia, 34, is known to many of the town's young girls as Fairy Timble.

She has become used to children

tugging at their mother's skirts in the supermarket to point out that only feet away Fairy Timble is in the vegetable section.

Her alter-ego came about as the result of her friendship with an Australian, Ann Tester.

Mrs Tester was surprised to find that the popular trend of fairy parties down under had not caught on in England.

Bored with the usual jelly and ice cream and pass the parcel, Mrs Tester asked Amelia to help her stage a fairy party for her daughter's eighth birthday.

Amelia said: "She suggested that I could be a fairy. My first reaction was to say, 'I have to live here.' But I was willing to give it a try."

The party was a great success, with each of the young guests clamouring for more.

The friends decided to launch the format as a party business.

Today - two years and 150 parties later - Amelia's polished fairy routine has become a roaring success.

Amelia said: "Each child invited 20 friends and it just snowballed. By Christmas we were taking bookings."

The parties are the stuff that dreams are made of for all young girls.

As if by magic Fairy Timble only appears when the girls close their eyes and wish for her presence.

The birthday girl is crowned a fairy princess and given a sprinkling of fairy dust to make a wish.

Childlike enchantment has not become just part of a day's work for Amelia, she is still impressed at the wonderment of children.

She said: "I just think the whole thing is lovely and the children make it all worthwhile."

Amelia, who now has two fairy helpers, has spun her own fairyland, around the landscape of Ilkley.

Fairy Timble is so-called after Timble Moor, and the character, so vividly brought to life by Amelia, is joined by a Giant Rombald, as her teacher.

Youngsters do not have to cast their imaginations too far to conjure images of Timble's fairy kingdom.

After the success of the fairy parties, Amelia has now established the first fairy club in England.

Members are treated to special gifts - such as magic fairy stones - and special messages.

Numbers are already growing and Amelia has employed an artist to create an image of Fairy Timble.

Amelia said: "It is a way for the children of keeping in touch with Timble.

"They receive a special package, which they are only allowed to open on Christmas Eve."

Amelia, who has three children of her own Gregory, eight, Bryony, seven, and Rory, four, is not content to let Fairy Timble's magic rest there.

She aims to cast the spell of the enchanting fairy far and wide.

A web-site has been set up and even a range of cards, akin to Pokemon cards could be in the offing.

A mail order business for fairy costumes has also been established.

There certainly seems scope - given the wide-spread popularity of Fairy Timble within Wharfedale.

Amelia said: "Bryony believes that Fairy Timble exists, even though she sees my costume upstairs."

Mum, Liz Merrick, whose daughter Chloe, five, had a Fairy Timble party also seemed happy with the wizardry she cast.

She said: "Chloe thoroughly enjoyed it. For a little girl this is something quite special.

"All the children were just completely entranced. They all dress up as well so it is quite a pretty scene all together."

Amelia is no stranger to the magic of dressing up and make believe - as a performing arts graduate.

In her spare time Amelia enjoys taking on roles with Ilkley Playhouse and also sings in old people's homes.

Fairy Timble may be contacted in cyberspace at www.fairytimble.co.uk, or on (01943) 605091. But for this week only she will be hanging up her fairy wand for a well-deserved Christmas break.