Ilkley residents need to shake the myth that Bradford Council has a long history of supplying festive lights for the town, a parish councillor has urged.

Coun Lexa Robinson, parish council chairman-elect, said: "I think Ilkley is what Ilkley wants it to be. People should realise the lights have never been paid for by Bradford."

She said the town's residents should not adopt an attitude of 'it is not my job, therefore it's not my problem.'

Coun Robinson has welcomed a suggestion for a wider section of the town community to become involved in the fundraising and organisation of Christmas lights.

It is hoped to establish a festive lights team which will include input from parish councillors, the town's traders and members of the public.

Parish council chairman Coun Kate Brown has revealed an envelope drop raised about £3,000 with around £1,900 raised by Ilkley traders.

Coun Amanda Clarke suggested individual traders could be encouraged to produce festive light displays.

However, Coun Mike Lynes, a former chairman of the now defunct Ilkley Chamber of Trade, said: "Years ago we did offer to provide free brackets and lights if businesses would pay for the power. However, if we approached them and they were not the freeholder of the property they could not get permission."

He said the Chamber of Trade had discontinued this policy as it did not wanted the festive lights display to look fragmented.

Coun Robinson, while looking forward to the next push for festive lights funding, praised all those who had worked hard towards the 1999 display.

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