Organisers of a charity balloon race are bursting with anger.

Keighley Gala bosses -- planning the event for June -- have hit out after discovering that a separate balloon race is to be held by the town council next month.

And in an amazing attack, gala chairman Brian Hudson (pictured) has accused the town council -- on which he serves -- of stealing the idea.

He claims that having two balloon races within three months will cause confusion among ticket buyers and hit those charities supposed to benefit.

But the town council -- whose race is planned for March 15 as part of Keighley Day celebrations -- denies that the idea was stolen and is confident the public will support both events.

Cllr Hudson said: "At a gala committee meeting last month we discussed new ways of raising funds for good causes this year and adopted the idea of a balloon race.

"I was upset to learn later that a town councillor present at the meeting had taken the same idea back to the town council, which then decided to adopt it for its own Keighley Day activities.

"We saw our balloon race as an added attraction at the gala on June 7 and an ideal opportunity to replace much of the money for charities that we used to take on the gates. Our aim was to sell 1,000 tickets.

"But with tickets now being sold for the town council race as well, there is going to be a lot of confusion and our sales are bound to be affected.

"Having two such events within such a short space of time is going to dilute the gala's.

"It is sad that the town council appears to be so bereft of ideas that it has to steal ours."

He has written expressing his anger to town councillor Joyce Newton, chairman of the service provision committee.

She refuted the claims, saying: "A balloon race is something that has been at the back of my mind to do and the decision to hold one as part of the Keighley Day celebrations was taken at the last service provision meeting.

"There is no question of us stealing the idea.

"Balloon races have been around for years -- it is hardly an original concept.

"We have already sold a number of tickets for our race -- to be held at an event in Lund Park -- and all the proceeds will go to the town mayor's charity.

"There is a space of three months between the two events and I just don't agree that one will have an impact on the other.

"There is plenty of room for both," she said.

Keighley's deputy mayor, Councillor Nick Lajszczuk, said: "I am sure that the good people of Keighley will be equally supportive of all worthy events, wherever they are held and whoever organises them."

l The Keighley News has offered sponsorship support for both events