AMBITIOUS plans to extend Otley Victorian Fayre into a four day special have raised the concerns of town councillors.

The new fayre committee is looking at expanding the one day December event into four themed days and moving it forwards to the end of November.

New chairman, Councillor Nigel Francis, wants to see a children's fairground set up along Boroughgate for the whole four days and a number of attractions including a drive past of vintage vehicles and firework displays.

He believes the event, which in recent years has struggled to attract 10,000 people, would cost just £4,000 to stage and bring up to 80,000 people into the town.

On Monday, at the council's environment and economic development committee meeting, chairman, Coun Phil Coyne said he would like to see full costing of the event and a detailed plan.

"There needs to be a proper report with costing, it is a huge change.

"I think the Victorian Fayre is very important for the town and acts as one of the best advertisements. Traders say they don't take a lot on the night, but people do come in to the town and will come back."

He added that he had a few concerns including plans to coincide the first day of the event with the turning on of the town's Christmas lights.

"I am concerned that the Victorian Fayre in the first week of December is an established event and that fairground people will not be able to get to it.

"I am also concerned that the switching on of the lights should be a religious event and does not need to disappear in the hullabaloo of an event like this. We would have to speak to the churches to see what they thought about it."

l Anyone interested in the Victorian Fayre can attend the next meeting due to take place on Tuesday, March 11 from 7.30pm at The Red Lion Pub, Kirkgate, Otley.