Historic Bolton Priory has been chosen as the location to launch the Yorkshire Dales National Park's 50th birthday.

A spectacular sculptural firework display will light the evening sky to mark the start of year-long celebrations.

About 60 guests will join actor Brian Blessed, President of the Council for National Parks and celebrity Sir Jimmy Savile - both Yorkshiremen - next to the river Wharfe on Friday.

It will be the culmination of a day-long launch starting on Leeds railway station at noon, where YDNP chairman, Steve Macare, will give a celebratory speech.

Guests will then travel down the line by train to Ilkley where they will visit Betty's Cafe Tea Rooms.

Refreshed, they will then walk six miles, partly along the Dalesway, to Bolton Abbey village and the 12th century priory.

The theme of the year is Reaching Out and its aim is to lure more people to explore the 683 square miles of mountain and moorland.

National park staff want to see new visitors and especially ethnic minority groups.

In charge of the celebrations is the park's anniversary co-ordinator Cathy Bennett.

She said the walk to Bolton Abbey would also include a stretch where they would be joined by horse riders and cyclists to demonstrate how the park can accommodate varying leisure activities.

And by using the train, they hoped to show how people could access the park on public transport rather than in the car She said: "Hopping on a bus or a train is something we would like to encourage to reduce congestion on the roads.

"There has never been as much emphasis on the benefits of taking exercise.

"What better place to do this than in the park - it's the country's largest green gym and membership is free.

"We know the future lies in being able to promote ourselves to all age and social groups."

The Yorkshire Dales National Park was established under the 1949 National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act. There are 11 national parks in England and Wales.