Ian Chatburn of band Dales Jam plays sax at the Skipton Waterways Festival on his prize-winning boat

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All set sail for the Skipton Canal! This bank holiday saw 85 boating families from across the country arrive in Skipton for the town's annual Waterways Festival.

Sunshine illuminated the scene on Saturday with jazz bands, swing musicians and baton-twirling majorettes all adding to the festival atmosphere.

The theme for this year's event was Skipton Olympics and a competition was held to find the best decorated Olympic-themed boat.

The contest was won by Ian Chatburn from Skipton, whose jazz band Dales Jam played at the event.

He said: "We decorated our boat with lots of little action men doing athletic events. I'm very proud to have won.

"There was so much going on, including an illuminated night-time cruise which everyone was excited about."

The event, which received about 10,000 visitors over the weekend, was organised by Pennine Cruises and Craven District Council.

Boat fan Diane Davis travelled from Durham to join the fun and enjoyed watching the show from under her umbrella on Sunday.

Allyson Proudfoot and Diane Davies enjoy a cuppa Fifties-style at the Skipton Waterways Festival

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She said: "The festival is going fantastically well and the rain hasn't stopped the crowds. We have a traditional working boat ourselves. Its one of the biggest boat festivals in the north. There are competitions and activities for the children, bands and dancing girls.

"There are lots of people - and lots of umbrellas!"

And just down the road on Coach Lane an underwear store was providing a little light entertainment for the visiting boaters.

Dare to Bare had three live models taking the place of its window mannequins on Saturday including Miss Aire Valley Rebecca Geldard.

Shop owner Hannah Farren said: "We wanted to get into the spirit and we gave the pub opposite a good laugh."

Meanwhile, in Haworth there was a Railway Children Walk to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Tina Davis-Johnstone of the Trust said: "Despite the rain we still had 60 walkers taking part.

"It teemed it down but everyone was in good spirits "We're expecting to raise £5,000 this year which is fantastic."

The walk started at Haworth Park and ran for six miles covering locations where the original railway children film was made.

And in Bradford the city's Industrial Museum came alive with a Grand Day Out yesterday and today.

Visitors were invited to step back in time, and explore the history of Bradford, taking a virtual tour through the old streets, featuring a clattering and bustling mill building - and a family gathered to watch the 1953 coronation'.

Stepping further back in time, a family arrived at number 21 to explore their new home of 1875.

There was a classic Bradford City Transport bus, a horse drawn wagon and the Bradford trolley bus which was the last to run in the UK.

Printing demonstrations also took place in the print gallery.

Street games were offered along with entertainment from traditional Morris dancers.

The event was part of the nationwide Museums and Galleries Month.

Jane Glaister, Bradford Council's Strategic Director of Culture, Tourism and Sport, said: "This is a great family day out and allows people to glimpse into the past and see a living history of Bradford."

e-mail: tanya.orourke @telegraphandargus.co.uk

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6:31am Monday 5th May 2008

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