Last year, 25,000 flocked to enjoy Otley's carnival and organisers are hoping for another huge success when this year's event is staged.

Given a sunny day, the event is capable of attracting even bigger crowds, but whatever the weather, in just two weeks time, on Saturday, June 18, the event's hard working committee is confident it has put together an exciting, fun-packed day for all the family.

Hundreds of families from across the area will already be gearing up for the carnival as their children put the final touches on their outfits, while teachers and parents, pubs and guide and scout groups will be busy painting backdrops and making props for their carefully prepared floats.

As well as the parade, and the fun on the carnival field, Harry Potter actor, Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the hit films, and who goes to St Mary's RC Comprehensive School at Menston, will be helping to judge the floats and walking groups before joining the parade to the Bridge End carnival field.

Sixteen-year-old Matthew will no doubt be answering all sorts of questions from devoted fans of the Potter books.

Bryan Dexter, carnival vice chairman, said: "One of our committee members managed to get him to come along. He's going to help judge the floats with his mum and we hope he'll have a good time. He's so well known, we hope people will enjoy meeting him."

The parade itself, which sets off at just after 1pm from Wharfedale Farmers Auction Mart, Leeds Road, will include 20 floats and walking groups, as well as live bands, including the Leeds Pipe Band at the front, and a car of visiting Carnival queens, will make its way through the packed streets of the town centre to the carnival field.

Keen to introduce new attractions every year to keep the event alive and interesting, the organisers have for the first year provided an It's a Knockout competition.

Mr Dexter said: "Its very important to bring new things into the event, otherwise people would say it was the same thing every year.

" Other carnivals have themes, but we don't do that - we let people decide what they want to do and we've hardly ever had duplicates, apart from in the millennium year."

For the It's a Knockout contest, ten teams, including one of students and another of teachers from Prince Henry's Grammar School, one from Otley Town FC, from Cannon's Gym, Guiseley, and Otley firm Copsey Civil Engineering, will battle it out all afternoon with a series of wet and humiliating games, bouncy obstacles and oversized rubber hammers.

The aim is for the best teams to contest a grand final at the end of the day with lots of fun along the way.

Committee member Derek Mason was keen to bring the competition to the event, but it soon became clear that the committee alone would not be able to raise the £3,000 needed to pay a professional company to put it on.

After fruitless approaches to some businesses for sponsorship, the committee went to the town council's community development officer, Julia Johnson, who suggested possible grant bodies. The committee was lucky and managed to secure a grant from the national lottery's awards for all fund.

Mr Mason said: "We are most grateful to Awards for All for giving us the opportunity to offer something new as without their support, the event could not have taken place."

Mr Dexter said the competition was bound to be a big hit with everyone watching. "We've never done anything like this before and we're hoping it will be great fun. It'll be going on all afternoon, so there'll be plenty of time for everyone to watch."

Crowds on the carnival field will have plenty of other attractions to keep them entertained - from side shows and trade stands to children's bouncy castles and a Punch and Judy show

And shortly after the parade enters the field this year's Carnival Queen, Rebecca Whitfield and her deputy, Chelsea Reynolds will be crowned.

As always, the event is free, but people will be asked to give whatever they can on the way in to the carnival field. "We don't charge, but we do ask for a donation.

"This is the third year we've done this. The first year we raised £200 and last year, we doubled it to £400," said Mr Dexter.

Meanwhile, proceeds from this year's event will go towards All Saints CE Primary School, Otley and two youth groups - one based at the Cross Green Community Centre, Otley, and the other at Weston Lane Youth Club, Otley.

Carnival chairman, June Galling, said the event could not happen without the support of so many people in the town - including all the volunteer helpers and stewards, the police, St John Ambulance and the drivers of all the wagons.

"Carnival day is a happy day and it gives me a great deal of satisfaction to see all the people enjoying themselves whatever the weather. Like many others, I eagerly look forward to seeing our local schools in the parade as well as walking tableaux or in a float."

And town mayor, Betty Bevan, carnival president, said the parade was always a major event in the town's calendar.

"For many years, Otley Carnival has been a major town event which brings together a wide range of local groups and organisations for a day of fun and fundraising and for many people the carnival sums up all that is best about our community.

"Over the years the generosity of all those who support the carnival in any way has enabled the carnival committee to give donations to many local groups working for and in the community.

"Other groups regularly raise their own funds on the carnival field and I hope that all attend the carnival this year will show their usual generosity as they all enjoy that is on offer."