THE director of Ilkley's Summer Festival says funding from the parish council is crucial if it is to build on its success.

Local groups and organisations are also being asked to dig deep and seek lottery money to organise their own events as part of the fourth festival in August.

The month-long festival has previously gained cash from a variety of sources, but organisers believe changes in the rules for some types of lottery funding could mean the company set up to the run the festival will not be able to tap into this source in 2006.

Ilkley Parish Council, which has organised the major Last Night of the Proms open air concert on The Grove for the past three years, could also be a key to making the festival a growing success.

Festival director, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said: "We need the support that we had from the parish council last time, that's pretty crucial."

The parish council put forward money to underwrite the popular Last Night of the Proms, which forms the finale to the festival, but also gave additional cash from its parish precept to the festival in 2005.

No allocation of money has yet been agreed by the parish council for this year, and discussions could be held up by uncertainty about the future of Ilkley Parish Council during the parish split.

Councillor Hawkesworth recently called a meeting with Ilkley organisations to discuss the early stages of planning this year's festival. She said it was well-attended, and a number of ideas and offers of help have already come in. She is keen to hear from more organisations, however.

Among the offers of help to come in so far has been activities organised by Ilkley Flower Show Society which holds its annual show in August and Escape bar on South Hawksworth Street is expected to host an official 'festival bar' with various musical entertainment.

An event showcasing fine organically-grown Yorkshire food could be on the menu for Yorkshire Day, August 1, traditionally the first day of the festival.

Coun Hawkesworth says the Fun in the Park afternoon of music and fun for young people in the Riverside Gardens may showcase more local talent this year. Finalists of the Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts' Pop Star competition performed at the event last year, and Coun Hawksworth hopes to tap into more of the talent around in Wharfedale.

The performance of a Shakespearean or Restoration comedy may take place in the Riverside Gardens this August, and a performance by Opera North may also be based in the park.

The son et lumiere which brightened up Ilkley's Mill Ghyll last August, attracting crowds to the evening spectacle, may happen once again this year.

Coun Hawksworth is confident that a permanent power supply can be installed in Mill Ghyll for the illuminations, and she says it would not be difficult to organise the rest of the event if this is in place.

A local trapeze artist is also said to have offered to put on a display in town as part of the festival.

Any organisations or societies wanting to get involved in the Ilkley Summer Festival can contact Coun Hawkesworth on (01943) 600701 or (07860) 856203.