Local people are being given priority when booking opens on Monday for this year’s carol service train on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

For the first three days of booking, people with BD20, 21 and 22 postcodes will head the queue for tickets.

The carol train – which tours stations on the five-mile line, with seasonal singing at each stop – was launched more than 40 years ago as an event for local people.

But its popularity over the years has snowballed, particularly since it was featured on the BBC’s Songs of Praise, and people now travel miles to be part of the event.

A K&WVR spokesman said: “Bookings will still be accepted from ‘non locals’ for the first three days of next week but will not be processed until Thursday.”

This year’s event is on Saturday, December 18.

Bookings can be made via kwvr.co.uk, by phoning (01535) 645214 (10am to 4pm), by faxing (01535) 647317 or by post to Haworth Station.