THE third Ilkley Summer Festival has finally drawn to a close after a 'phenomenal' month of holiday activities, fun and big events aimed at people of all ages.

The event closed at the weekend with the big finale Last Night of the Proms concert and a fireworks display, ending another successful year at becoming established in Ilkley's annual calendar of events.

The festival director and founder of the event, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, believes the month-long festivities have been enjoyed by all.

She said: "I think it's been absolutely phenomenal. I've just been picking up on some of the comments from people, and everybody seems to have had a whale of a time."

The finale to this year's Ilkley Summer Festival came on Saturday with the ever-popular Last Night of the Proms open air concert on The Grove.

Another major event in the closing days of the festival was the 1940s Tea Dance at the King's Hall and Winter Garden. This year, the event was extended from the Winter Gardens, with the actual dancing taking place in the King's Hall, to accommodate the extra numbers.

Coinciding with this year's celebrations marking the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the tea dance took on a Victory theme, with the help of live 1940s style musicians and singers, and invitations were sent out to many people who were evacuated to Ilkley during the war.

Councillor Hawkesworth says the event was a spectacular success, with senior citizens travelling in from residential homes, and family members and carers bringing others to the event, for tea and dancing. She said there was no need for rationing, with enough food and a celebratory cake to go around, but some last-minute re-arranging of seats were necessary as around 200 people arrived.

This year's festival brought out some of the old favourites which have also been the talking point of the last two years' festivals, but also introduced variety and some new events.

The spectacular Son et Lumiere cast light upon a corner of Ilkley parkland which is being revamped, and organisers say the event must be repeated next year. Lights were put up around Mill Ghyll, the wooded ravine between Wells Walk and Wells Promenade in the week running up to the Edwardian Splendour finale night.

Visitors packed into the Ghyll on finale night to be entertained by costumed performers, living statue mime artists, musicians, and a computer-controlled light display to enhance the Ghyll, it's leafy surroundings and the stream at its heart.

Some of the festival favourites to return this year included the continental street market, the junior cricket school at Ben Rhydding Cricket Club, a repeat of the children's theme day, and the long-running Ilkley Flower Show was also publicised with the festival programme.

New events introduced last year, such as the Dog Fun Day at Darwin Gardens and the Paddling Pool Fun Day at the pool on the edge of Ilkley Moor, have gone ahead again this year, along with guided walks, talks, art and heritage exhibitions and more.

Coun Hawkesworth says she is already looking towards more improvements for next year, in Ilkley's newest established festival.

"We've got to make the son et lumiere happen again," said Coun Hawkesworth.

Other ideas on the drawing board are a 'festival club night' with folk or jazz music, and a rock 'n' roll event.

A meeting to discuss the 2006 festival with community groups and organisations, as well as residents who would like to contribute, is to take place shortly.