Bingley's Jazz Festival could be back in full swing next year in aid of the new Lord Mayor's Appeal.

This year's festival was hailed a great success by organisers who said it could only go from strength to strength.

Numbers of visitors to the festival from around the country were up on the first event last year - and around £4,000 was raised for Manorlands Hospice at Oxenhope, Bradford Outward Bound Association and Ilkley's Nell Bank Activity Centre. Despite the 2004 festival making £10,000 for then Lord Mayor Alan Hillary's appeal, last year's Lord Mayor, Councillor Irene Ellison-Wood, stunned organisers of the festival by snubbing their offer to run it in aid of her appeal.

At the time she said one of her reasons was because she didn't like jazz. The other was the risk of failing to find major sponsorship to cover the cost of bands, adding: "I don't want to risk any money we've raised so far on paying bands if we can't find major sponsorship for it."

Now event organisers, who secured £15,000 sponsorship for this year's festival from the Bradford & Bingley bank, have offered once again to be a key part of this year's Lord Mayor's appeal assets. And new Lord Mayor Councillor Valerie Binney, who went to this year's event, told her appeal committee at their first meeting on Monday that "it would be fantastic" to be backed by the festival.

Coun Binney is sending an invitation to festival organisers to discuss the idea - although it would have to get the approval of the whole committee. The Jazz Festival's music director, Peter Frank, is hopeful next year's event will get the blessing of the Lord Mayor's appeal. "I've already booked bands for 2006. We are hoping to go international next year if we can, booking bands from abroad, but they can get snapped up quickly," he said.

Next year's festival might also see a campsite being opened in the town for its toe-tapping visitors.