Yeadon Carnival has been thrown another lifeline with the offer of a big cash injection.

The three local ward councillors have pledged hundreds of pounds to the event after an 11th hour bid was launched to save it.

Just weeks ago the carnival seemed like an impossibility for this year and was said to be unlikely to happen next year either.

A huge question mark hung over the event because of uncertainly over the starting date for work on the new health centre -- which will use a car park normally used by the carnival.

And the obstacles seemed insurmountable after it emerged that the main organiser was moving away from the area.

But the apparently hopeless situation was turned around when Otley town councillor Nigel Francis stepped in to get the event off the ground.

Coun Francis, an experienced organiser of voluntary events, was determined to save the day, and he is confident that a smaller carnival can be staged.

With just weeks to go before the provisional date of Saturday, July 2, Coun Francis has held a meeting with local people who are interested in forming a carnival committee and is already planning the entertainment.

Now the three ward councillors are also lending a helping hand by pledging around £750 from council funds which are available to them to be allocated to local groups and societies.

Otley and Yeadon councillors Colin Campbell, Graham Kirkland and Ryk Downes decided to give the funding after meeting at the weekend.

Coun Campbell said: "My colleagues and I had a meeting over the weekend to discuss how we could assist the carnival -- and we have decided to make some money available."

"Though they haven't got a committee up and running yet we have decided that we are more than happy to make a contribution.

"We are throwing them a financial lifeline to help them get going this time, and I am asking the people of Yeadon to rally round and support the carnival."

He added: "We thought the best way we could help them was to make a financial contribution so they don't have to worry about printing costs etcetera."

He said the three ward councillors would consider applications from other organisations needing support.

"We are always interested in hearing from groups and societies who have a project that we could help support.

"We will not pay your day to day running expenses but if you have got a project we might be able to help with that."