VILLAGERS danced in the streets and re-enactors in period costume interacted with crowds at the 13th annual Ingleton 1940s Weekend, which was held July 6 to 8.

“During the event, we pretend Ingleton is a French village,” said Tim Goundry, outgoing Ingleton 1940s Weekend chairman. “The attendance this year was pretty good.

“The weekend is about the dancing, music and fashion of the era. A lot of people get really dressed up.”

He said a total of four dances were organised over the weekend, including street dancing, dances in the marquee and community centre and the Sunday tea dance.

To raise money for this year’s event, the Ingleton 1940s Weekend committee held several jumble sales and tombolas during the year and received grants from Ingleton Parish Council, the Ingleton Trade Group and the Ingleton Rural Communities Association.

“We couldn’t have done without their help,” said Mr Goundry, who also thanked Thwaites Brewery and the Craven Heifer for sponsoring the marquee tent.

Tony Dodwell, incoming Ingleton 1940s Weekend chairman, was also pleased with festivities for the three-day event.

“The village was all decked out for the event,” he said: “The weekend went well but Sunday was busier than Saturday. We seen a drop off in numbers at about 10 minutes to 3pm when people went in the watch the England World Cup quarter-final. The pubs were packed and it was a good atmosphere.”

Sunday featured a parade to the war memorial, led by The City of Bradford Pipe Band and the local Scout group.

A Remembrance service was held at the memorial, followed by a marching parade featuring several 1940’s re-enactors with their period vehicles and members of the community dressed in period costume.

Mr Dodwell paid tribute to the re-enactors who help make the event so successful.

“The re-enactors are really up for this event and really enjoy it,” said Mr Dodwell, who spoke about how a road closure barrier was set up to look like a German guard box.

“The re-enactors manned the road block and set up sandbags, a machine gun, anti-aircraft gun and two German sidecars, which all looked really authentic,” said Mr Dodwell.

He said in the past there have Spitfire static displays, flypasts and German and French Resistance demonstrations, which Mr Dodwell hopes to bring back in future years.

He said the committee is set to meet to discuss next year’s event, taking place July 5 to 7.