RESIDENTS can play a part in the future of Keighley Festival as it tries to build itself a stronger future. They can offer their help during the annual meeting of the festival committee on Wednesday. Organisers plan to return to the event's roots next summer, with many community organisations taking part.

They hope groups in every village and neighbourhood in the district will host at least one activity during the festival week.

At the meeting, the committee will reveal its plans to return to the festival's original tradition of "for Keighley people, by Keighley people".

The festival's £14,000 cost is normally met almost entirely by Bradford council, but organisers are now looking for alternative sources of funding. The aim is to give small grants to many groups to organise their own events as part of the week-long festival.

Officers and committee members will be elected during the meeting, and a financial report will be given.

Festival chairman Peter Halliwell has appealed for people to join the committee, which currently has just four members.

The meeting will be held, at 7pm, in Keighley Library lecture theatre.