The swinging sound of Dixieland jazz provided the perfect soundtrack to Baildon Gala as thousands of funseekers turned out to enjoy the event.

The gala parade, this year given the theme of transport, started its colourful procession from Ian Clough Hall before winding its way up the village to the fields of Sandal primary School in West Lane.

Among the paraders taking part in Saturday's event was five-year-old David Stainton who had dressed up as his hero Virgil Tracy - the puppet pilot of Thunderbird Two.

Mum Amanda said: "He came up with the idea himself. He loves Thunderbirds and he helped make the costume."

Among the group taking part in the parade were Baildon Rugby Club, Baildon 1st Guides and the village's 5th Brownie group who came dressed as pirates paddling their own home-made ship.

At the gala fields youngsters hurled themselves around bouncy castles while their parents enjoyed a barbecue.

More than 2,500 people were expected to attend the gala and hoped to raise around £4,000 for Baildon and District Round Table's chosen charities - the Manorlands cancer-care hospice at Oxenhope and the Round Table Fix-It campaign.

Jon Messenger, 35, a Baildon teacher who was at the gala with his children, said: "It's very good this year - there's a lot of hard work gone into it."

Elsewhere, gala queens, mar-ching bands, and games and stalls provided the perfect match to Saturday's sun.

At the East Morton gala, held in the recreational field on Saturday, antics on the greasy pole provided much of the fun as contestants battled to see who could stay on the slippery object the longest while whacking each other with pillows.

Committee member Doris Beanlands said: "The whole day went very well and there was a good crowd."

Queen for the day Emma Baynham, 13, got Culling-worth Gala off to a glamorous start as she led the procession through the village to the cricket ground on Saturday.

Music from the Haworth band kept things going with a swing. Event spokesman Lesley Welch said: "Everyone had a great day and a lot of that must go down to the businesses in the area which supported us really well."

Stilt walkers, rappers and African drummers provided the sights and sounds at yesterday's fun day at the Dixons CTC in Ripley Street, West Bowling.

The multicultural event provided attractions for all interests and proved a big hit with people.