A CAMPAIGN to transform an unused field in Addingham into a children's playground has received an unexpected boost from Bradford Council. Although the council had previously said it was unable to pay for the playground it has now agreed to help design the play area and maintain it if installed. But young mum Catherine Coates, 34, who launched the campaign, said there was still a long way to go to raise the money needed for the project. "We have had a quote from a Skipton firm for £43,000," said Mrs Coates, of Moor Lane. "But we are looking at different options and Bradford Council is putting together some ideas for us." She added that before fundraising could begin more volunteers were needed to help with the campaign. "We have got quite a few more people involved but we could do with some more. The more the merrier." Mrs Coates can be contacted on (01943) 830299.

Festivities start in town

THE programme for Ilkley's Christmas Festivities day on November 25 has been finalised by organisers. It will start with Carols and Christmas music around the town from 11.30am. Refreshments and gift stalls will be organised at Riddings Hall, Christchurch from 1.30pm. The Christmas procession of Father Christmas, Churches Together and the Upstagers, will leave Booths supermarket at 3pm. The procession will travel along Leeds Road through Brook Street to Christchurch, The Grove. The festivities will culminate in the switch on of the Christmas lights by BBC Look North presenter Peter Levy at 4pm in The Grove. There will be free car parking available.

Readers get their say

READERS using Ilkley library are being asked to fill in a questionnaire with the aim of improving services. Paul Lawson, head of Bradford Council's Arts, Museums and Libraries, said: "This is part of a national survey to find out what users think about the library service, what they use libraries for, and also to give them a chance to comment." The results of the user survey will be available early next year and will be fed back to library users. They will be used to help develop and improve our library services.

Motorised sister act

TWO sisters got into top gear and raised more than £1,000 for charity. Fiona Mann, pictured right, and Stephanie Buckley, left, put their feet down in a special women's driving challenge. The sisters got behind the wheel of a variety of vehicles including fire engines, lorries and buses, at Meadowhall shopping centre, near Sheffield. They are set to hand over the cash to Marie Curie Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Care. Mrs Mann, of Springfield Mount, Addingham, said: "It was very good. We got to drive a lot of different vehicles. It was a very cold, miserable day but it was good fun. It was also worthwhile as we raised more than £1,000 for charity. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who sponsored us."

Singer to give talk

THE next meeting of the Wharfedale Recorded Music group forms part of Ilkley Arts Week and features a talk with recordings by James Griffet called 'From Tufty to the Salzburg Festival'. Mr Griffet, who lives in Ilkley, is a singer with an international reputation and has made several recordings. He is no stranger to the Ilkley music scene and has appeared locally many times, usually performing church or baroque music. The meeting will be held at St John's Church Hall, Ben Rhydding, starting at 7.45pm. Visitors are welcome and admission will be free.