THE centenary of the Cottingley Fairies photographs hoax will be marked with two public events and an interactive show.

The images of cut-out fairies stuck on to trees with hatpins, taken by cousins Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright at Cottingley Beck in 1917 and 1920, fooled many, including scientist and Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Sir Arthur brought the photographs to public attention and was so convinced they were genuine that he gave the girls an expensive camera to capture more fairies and gnomes on film.

The hoax was kept secret for more than 60 years until Geoffrey Crawley, photographic expert and editor of the British Journal of Photography, tried to establish how the images were created.

He tested the original cameras used by the girls and in 1983 published articles saying why the pictures were fake, which led to a confession from the cousins.

The centenary will be marked with the Cottingley Community Association Fun Day on Saturday, July 8, between noon and 4.30pm, at Cottingley Recreation Ground, Manor Road.

It will include a display on the history of the fairy photographs, a mini fun-fair, live music, and a fairy fancy dress competition for children.

Businesses on The Parade near to the venue have been urged to carry fairy-themed window displays in the week leading up to the fun day.

Mandy Clark, Cottingley Community Association vice-chairman, said: “We need to celebrate this more.

“It is 100 years and we ought to remember it.

“It fooled a lot of people at the time. A lot of people have been interested in it over the years.”

The centenary will be further remembered at Cottingley Fairy Fest on Saturday, July 29, between 12.30pm and 4.30pm, also at Cottingley Recreation Ground.

The seventh annual Fairy Fest aims to keep the legend of the Cottingley Fairies alive.

It will feature a day of fairytale fun and a number of performers.

Meanwhile, the National Science and Media Museum is also marking the centenary.

It will open a permanent, 25-minute-long interactive show on the fairies in its Wonderlab from May.

The museum also has the five fairy photographs and the two original cameras on display.

John Darnbrough, the museum’s learning programme developer, said: “The show will help bring the story to life.”