FESTIVE shoppers will be writing to the Airedale Centre manager -- not Santa -- with their Christmas wishes.

Susan Mendoza is opening up suggestions for the design of the centre's Christmas tree to the people of Keighley from next year.

Her idea came in response to the Keighley News telephone poll, which showed that five in every six readers thought this year's tree was a cold turkey.

Of the 131 responses, 110 agreed with reader Eileen Greenwood, who said the tree was a joke with "disgusting ugly blue fairies" stuck between branches. Only 21 believed the tree was a cracker.

Susan said: "As the shoppers of Keighley disagree with me, it is fortunate that we are able to change the animated figures on the tree each year.

"So I would invite suggestions from the public about what they would like to see on the tree next year."

The most original suggestion as judged by the Keighley News editor and Airedale Shopping Centre manager will be invited next year to choose the animations for the tree at the KD Decoratives Ltd studio, in Huddersfield.

Although Susan likes the fairies, she admitted they were larger than she had expected.

But she warned that the tree had to be positioned where it was -- between Boots and Sunwin House -- for health and safety reasons.

Grandma-of-five Eileen, who lives at Long Lee, also wanted the tree to be returned to a more prominent position.

She said: "I am so pleased that people agree with me.

"The fairies have even started to flutter their wings now."

As part of her own suggestions, she hoped that the snow scene beneath the tree could be returned next year.

l More than 60 trees, with lights, appeared above shops and businesses in the town centre over the weekend courtesy of Keighley Town Council.

In addition, the council also provided Christmas greeting banners hanging from lamp standards in North Street and Cavendish Street.

l A Christmas carnival starts today with a three day market, in association with Bradford's markets division, with stalls in Hanover Street and Low Street.

Sunday will see a variety of street entertainment, music and school choirs, in the Airedale Centre, from 10am