KEIGHLEY crews enjoyed success in the Legend Fires North West Stages Rally last weekend.

Local councillor Andrew Mallinson was in action in his Subaru Impreza 4wd rally car and there were two other crews in the impressive start line-up on Blackpool's Golden Mile.

Tony Bilham, who now lives in Cottingley and his co-driver Graham Wild were racing their 1litre Nissan Mircra and Gareth Hooper and Michael Calibert led the way in their Open Manta

The rally took in 30 stages, including blasts along the famous Blackpool promenade, around the Pontins holiday complex and at a former army barracks before heading to a stage in the grounds of a stately home.

"I've been rallying for 25 years and it is one of the best organised events I have ever taken part in," Graham Wild said.

Bilham and Wild took their L-reg Micra, which is a showroom car with modifications to the brakes and suspension, to 2nd in class and 27th overall.

They were one place ahead of Andrew and Christopher Mallinson in their Subaru.

Hooper and Calibert, from Silsden, took their 2 litre Opel Manta to 17th overall and third in class to lead the local drivers home.

Both Hooper and Bilham are members of the Yorkshire Sports Car Club.

"It was Michael's first attempt at a multi-stage event so it was a remarkable performance by them.

"The was a fantastic event, particularly driving down the promenade at night in front of huge crowds with all the flash bulbs popping," Grham said.