WHILE fireworks will be reaching for the sky at the switch-on of Yeadon's Christmas lights on Saturday, neighbouring Guiseley will be left in the dark.

Yeadon have enjoyed fairy lights at Christmas for a number of years, while Guiseley residents have been furious they have been left out, even though they have had an illuminated Christmas tree in Town Gate.

Coun Moira Dunn (Lab, Aireborough), president of Project Guiseley, is appealing to residents and traders to help light up the town for Christmas.

"Unfortunately there is no council money available at the moment to provide Christmas lights for Guiseley," she said. "However, when Yeadon lights first started it was a result of local traders getting together and deciding to decorate their shop fronts with Christmas trees and fairy lights.

"If the residents and shopkeepers of Guiseley did the same, it would give me the evidence I need to take to the council to show there is a real community spirit in Guiseley which deserves recognition.

"Just a simple Christmas tree with fairy lights in shop windows would help give the town a festive appearance and it might persuade shoppers to spend their money in Guiseley instead of travelling to Leeds or Bradford," she said.

Meanwhile at Yeadon preparations for the big switch-on are being finalised.

It is to be quite a carnival event this year with circus people, a brass band, actors from a professional pantomime and Father Christmas taking part in the event which starts at 5.30pm.

Verity Rushworth, who has appeared in pantomime at Yeadon, and is presently playing Donna Windsor in Yorkshire Television's soap, Emmerdale, is to perform the switch-on in Town Hall Square.

Yeadon Brass Band will play carols and other seasonal music while choirs from two Yeadon schools, South View Junior and Queensway Primary, will be singing.

Some members of the cast of the professional pantomime Cinderella which is being given at hthe City Varieties Theatre, Leeds, are expected to be present including Katy Ka Broom (Cinderella), Anji Krest, a presenter on kiddies television and Richard Burke of Emmerdale. Tony Collins will be the mc.

The event will be concluded with a firework display on land behind the nearby Yeadon Methodist Church.

l BRAMHOPE: A carol service will be held by the Women's Fellowship of St Giles' Church next Tuesday, December 8.

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