COMEDIAN Bobby Ball made his first visit to Ilkley as he prepared to take on the role of an Ilkley resident in the long-running series, Last of the Summer Wine.

The comedian, best known as one half of TV double act Cannon and Ball, revealed he is to make a guest appearance in the show as the 'Swan Man of Ilkley', when he opened the British Society of Painters autumn art show in the town on Saturday.

Rumour has it that he makes his appearance in the BBC comedy series via a mishap in a river, and the series regulars have to help him out.

Organiser of the Ilkley art show, painter Leslie Simpson, said: "Bobby Ball did a tremendous job of opening the exhibition. He told us he will soon be appearing in the Last of the Summer Wine as the Swan Man of Ilkley and he said he had never been to Ilkley before and thinks it is marvellous."

There was also a surprise for the art show's star guest when Rosemund North, of Silsden - thought to be his biggest fan - turned up at the King's Hall to greet him.

Bobby said: "This is my number one fan. She has followed all our concerts ever since she was a little girl 23 years ago."

The art show itself has got off to a good start, and Mr Simpson says it is so far proving more popular than the summer art show. The exhibition features the work of 159 artists from across the UK, including artists from Manchester, Newcastle and Lancashire, as well as the home-grown talents of Wharfedale artists.

Among them are Ilkley resident Jonathan Shaw, whose prints have been voted among the top ten best selling works by the leading 800 galleries in the country, and Mr Simpson himself, who is offering for sale the original paintings from his new WhimseyCollies calendar.

After a lifetime producing more traditional paintings, Mr Simpson found new success in his series of colourful and light-hearted paintings depicting the exploits of sheepdogs, based on his own three collies. Mr Simpson is often to be seen putting pets May, Meg and Fly to good use, herding wandering moorland sheep out of the gardens of the Rombalds Hotel on Wells Road.

Mr Simpson plans to launch a WhimseyCollies book aimed at five to seven-year-olds soon.

The autumn art exhibition runs at the King's Hall and Winter Garden, Station Road, from noon to 5pm daily until this Sunday, with art demonstrations by experts this weekend.

Visitors are also asked to vote for their favourite artist exhibiting at the show, and could win an original painting.