A theatre company recently set up by a Threshfield writer will be taking two plays to this year's Edinburgh Festival.

Craven Image Theatre was set up by Richard Bickley who said: "There were no groups that did what we wanted to do locally and so we thought we'd get people together who wanted to put on new work."

Mr Bickley said the best local talent from various groups such as Skipton and Grassington Players acted in the productions. The local actors get an opportunity to work with professional actors and directors, who are hired to perform in the productions.

"We are a semi-professional company and we use professionals when we need them, but also use what amateur talent is available.

"This gives local people the chance of working with professional actors and directors and their own standards will be raised when they go back to perform with their own theatre companies," he added. Craven District Council agreed to fund the group on that basis.

The group will be taking two plays written by Mr Bickley to the festival, which are billed as "two plays exploring the psychotic nature of obsession" and entitled After Penny and Strange Desire.

The first won a Scotsman Fringe First Award at the 1997 festival and was selected as Irish Times Pick of the Fringe at the 1997 Dublin Festival.

Local amateurs, Sally Davis, a member of Skipton Players, and Andrew Jackson, of Grassing-ton, will perform with the group at the festival.

After Penny will run from Tuesday, August 22 to Monday, August 28, excluding Sunday, while Strange Desire will run right through.