IT'S the biggest thing to hit the Settle area since thousands flocked to the town to witness the total eclipse in 1927.

But this time the mass exodus will be heading out of the area as hundreds journey south to see the local rugby team, North Ribblesdale, play at the game's headquarters, Twickenham, in a national cup final.

Queues formed at the gates as more than 1,000 people turned up on Saturday to see "Ribb" book their place with a nerve-tingling extra time home victory over Mounts Bay from Cornwall.

Now about half that number is expected to travel to the final of the Powergen Junior Vase trophy at Twickenham on April 17 leaving Settle, population 2,400, a ghost town for the weekend.

Club spokesman Trevor Graveson said the reaction of the town had been fantastic, with messages and words of congratulation pouring in.

"I'm not sure we've come down yet and when you walk down the street people keep stopping you and saying how pleased they are," he said.