Events organisers around the district were putting their feet up today after a sun-kissed action-packed weekend.

Onlookers turned out in their droves to the Harden Children's Gala on Saturday, where events included a bubblegum blowing contest and a fell race.

A procession led by Hebden Bridge Brass band kicked off the event, which took place at Harden's Memorial Hall Park.

Gala Queen Lauren Hudson, ten, a pupil at Parkside Middle, came face to face with eight of her predecessors, who were also invited to the event.

The event was the 25th gala organised by the Harden Children's Gala Society and committee member Peter Bashforth said the event was one of the best yet.

He said: "It was one of the best attended galas we've ever had - there was a very big crowd. We probably had more help than we've ever had before too. It was a lovely day."

Meanwhile in Ilkley, twelve children attended the Ilkley Literature Festival's Play in a Day Young People's Workshop at the Cow and Calf Hotel, where youngsters scripted their own play from scratch.

Organiser Alice Porter said: "The theme was the mystery of the moor and the children were encouraged to write as much of the play themselves as possible.''

In Otley, thousands of people packed into the town yesterday to join in the carnival celebrations, which included stalls, rides, majorettes and an aerial slide erected by the King's Own Regiment of Yorkshire at the Bridgend auction fields.

Organiser Brian Dexter said: "It was a fabulous afternoon and the standard of floats in the procession was very high.

"The overall winners were Otley All Saints Infants who had the theme of Sing a Song of Sixpence. The weather was really good and the town was very busy there than previous years."

Meanwhile in Burley-in-Wharfedale, villagers were going quackers as the second annual duck race took place yesterday. About 700 people released 2,650 plastic ducks onto the river to raise money for the village's Millennium celebrations. Participants were then invited to take tea with the Children's Society on the green.

"It was a very fast race because the river was so high and it took us about an hour to rescue the ducks as they raced past the finishing line and carried on their way to Otley Carnival," said organiser Tom Sumner. "But it was a brilliant day and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves."

Over in Brighouse, a two-day Waterway Festival took place at the canal basin presented by the Sowerby Bridge Boat Club.

Organiser Bill Terry said: "We've had fun fairs and music and everything went extremely well. The weather's helped no end and we're looking forward to the next two weeks of the festival."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.