Haworth is most famous for the Bront sisters but villagers will next weekend prove local culture didn't stop with the Victorians.

They have devised a four-day arts festival incorporating one of the world's newest and most visually exciting pastimes.

Parkour, or obstacle-coursing, shares the programme with cutting-edge films, contemporary poetry and 21st-century folk singers.

Organisers are also providing traditional entertainment including 17th century music, art exhibitions, buskers, workshops and open gardens.

And they have taken inspiration from across the world with didgeridoo playing, flamenco dancing, Celtic music, French athletics and Indian dance.

But whatever the artistic style they have ensured that most of the participants, including many professional performers, come from Haworth or surrounding areas.

Selina Jahal, chairman of the organising committee, said: "We tried our best to get as many local acts as possible.

"We wanted a community side, and we've tried to balance community artists with professional ones. We really want to get local people involved in the arts.

"We feel we've put together a really varied, innovative, exciting programme that will interest the majority of the population."

Selina and fellow residents came together in January as Haworth Arts Group after Ellie Robertson and Rachel Hyde advertised for like-minded villagers.

The group wanted to raise the profile of modern-day artists living locally and prove that the Bronts were not the only talented villagers.

Selina said: "We felt Haworth needed a cultural focus. Haworth has lots of practising artists -- there are lots of musicians, writers, visual artists." The group decided an ideal first project would be a revival of the Haworth Arts Festival that ran successfully in 1999 and 2000.

To put the plans on a secure footing five members -- Selina, Peter Morton, Andrew Wood, Rachel Johnstone and Jaiq Carter -- formed an official committee.

Selina said: "We wanted it to be a professional festival. We wanted high-quality artists. It was important we made this festival professional so any other things we do would be taken seriously."

The committee gained several grants including £7000 from the Arts Council -- which insists performers are paid a professional rate -- £2000 from Bradford Council's Urban Cultural Programme, and £500 from Keighley Area Committee.

They are also receiving administrative and marketing support from Bradford Council and will in return carry out a survey for the council among festival visitors.

Selina said several events are free, and ticket prices for other events have been kept as low as possible to encourage a wide audience.

Proceeds will be spent on next year's festival, when the committee hopes to involve even more local artists and expand into other projects.

The group is already looking to the future, and wants to hear from local artists and performers who did not hear about the festival until it was too late to let get involved.

Selina said: "Within five years we would like to have a community base where we can have workshops, exhibitions and performances."

Arrangements for some festival events are still being finalised including the full art exhibition programme and an act for the grand finale night.

Festival timetable/listings:

Thursday, September 1

Festival Launch

Poetry and jazz from Nightdiver 7.45pm, Light Quartet video and sound work by photographic artist Simon Warner 9.30pm. Bront Parsonage Museum lawn, 7.45-10.45pm. Free, tickets from TIC.

Friday, September 2

Folk concert

Singer-songwriter Martha Tilston performs following Glastonbury Festival, with well-known singer Maggie Boyle and local young vocalists. Parkside Social Club, Butt Lane, 8pm. Tickets £5/£3 from TIC.

Saturday, September 3

Art exhibitions

Sarah Hutton and Anni Vassallo exhibit at Scar Top Chapel, Ponden (10am-5pm) with storytelling (11am-4pm). Chris McCarthy exhibits in Oak Street, behind Chaplin's Bistro (11am-4.30pm). Other artists in tourist information centre, Methodist and Baptist churches, 11am-4pm. Map available.

Street performers

Buskers, flamenco dancers, and local musicians. Main Street, pubs and railway station, 11am-4pm.

Open gardens

Including several gardens participating in the recent Yorkshire in Bloom contest. Open 11am-4pm, collect map from TIC, £2.

Annapurna Indian dance

Graceful and rhythmic movements from classical, folk and creative Indian dance styles. Performance from noon-1pm (£3/£2), workshop at 10-11am (£5/£3 including performance). Baptist Church, West Lane, tickets from TIC.

Parkour

Stunning street athletics from Urban Freeflow as seen on TV documentary Jump Britain. Main Street, 4-5pm. Parkour workshop, 2-3pm at venue to be confirmed. People wanting to take part should give their name, address and contact details to TIC or parkourhaworth@hotmail.co.uk.

The Thistle and the Rose

Baroque music from 17th and 18th centuries played by trio Fleuri, made up of Royal College of Music graduates.

Haworth Parish Church, 5.30pm. £5/£3 from TIC.

DAM Night at the Idiot Hut

Concert by local bands Angel Chain Diaries, Jeff and The Axis, and acoustic performers including Spence. Oxenhope Social Club, 7-11pm. Admission £4.

Pop-Up Films

Funny, creepy, evocative and wistful short films made by local contemporary artists. Parkside Social Club, Butt Lane, 7-8pm.

Johnny And The Poorboys

Concert by popular local Celtic rock and rollers. Parkside Social Club, 8.30pm. £5/£3 from TIC.

Sunday, September 4

Art exhibitions, street performers and open gardens

Same venues and times as Saturday, except Scar Top.

Family Workshops

Jewellery making, wearable art and didgeridoo playing are among the drop-in sessions. Methodist Church, West Lane, 10am-noon. Contribution towards materials.

Simon Armitage And Writing Workshop

Nationally-acclaimed Yorkshire writer recites minutely-observed poetry and prose about belief and trust, identity and knowledge, in everyday life. Followed by three workshop with West Yorkshire Playhouse writer-in-residence Mark Catley. Baptist Church, West Lane, 2pm. £5/£3 from TIC.

Mystery Grand Finale

Appearance by professional performer -- possibly a rising comedy star. Baptist Church, 8pm.

Further details from Haworth Tourist Information Centre (TIC), top of Main Street, Haworth, by phoning 01535 642329, or the web site www.haworth-village.org.uk