By Basil Simon

PEOPLE could be forgiven for thinking the aliens have landed in Cross Hills, as an array of rockets have mysteriously appeared in various public locations around the area.

The rockets were lovingly created by the children of six local schools as part of a special competition being run by the Fallfest music and arts festival this year.

The rockets can be seen in several locations around Cross Hills including: The Glusburn Community & Arts Centre, Cross Hills Police Station, Cross Hills Library, The Cross Hills Co-op, Wilman & Wilman Estate Agents, Libby’s Tea Room and Glusburn Primary School.

On Saturday (Sept 22) children will take to the "rocket trail” in an effort to collect clues from each location.

The clues will give the first letter to a well-known David Bowie song.

The winning school will receive a special cash prize to buy a school telescope.

The rocket trail is the brainchild of Fallfest founder and chairman, Sue Ingham, who is known by many local residents as an teacher of South Craven school.

Mrs Ingham said: “We are delighted that the local schools have come on board with Fallfest in such an enthusiastic manner.

Their contribution has made this year's Fallfest truly special”

If anyone wishes to participate in the trail, rocket trail sheets can be picked up from either Aire Valley Kitchens in Cross Hills or from the main office at Glusburn Community & Arts Centre.

Participants are asked to have their completed trail sheets handed into the main office at Glusburn Community & Arts Centre by 2pm on Sunday. (Sept 23)

In addition to the rocket trail, local schools are participating in the festival itself too with a special sing off and a cross country run for primary school aged youngsters

The sing off will see six schools compete for a special trophy by performing two songs in Glusburn Community & Arts Centre's main hall.

Each school will first sing a song of their own choice and then combine all their voices in an ensemble to perform a unique version of David Bowie's Space Oddity.

Music for this ensemble has been created and provided by celebrated composer Mark Melville. (Royal Court London, Northern stage)

The sing off takes place tomorrow morning (September 21) at 10am.

The children’s low-level cross-country run will begin at Glusburn Community & Arts Centre on Saturday (September 22) at 1:30pm and will be split into two age group sections.

The adult’s cross-country event will start at 12:30pm, with runners heading up toward Cowling Pinnacle and then back to the community and arts centre. All are welcome to this event. Registration begins at 11:30am on the day.

The Fallfest cross country event has been organised by David Seaward, of Keighley and Craven Athletics Club.

Fallfest, now in its fifth year, has become a widely supported local event.

This year’s schedule includes the popular return of the Falling Stars theatre company who delivered a sell out performance at last year's Fallfest with their highly acclaimed production of Jim Cartwright’s play, ‘Two’.

Director Rebecca Durham surprised her audience with the unusual step of having the actors move around the audience as they delivered a powerful, emotional performance.

This year will see the arrival of Chris Owen's play ‘The Last Resort’ and promises to be just as memorable as last year's performance.

‘The Last Resort’ is scheduled to be performed tomorrow (September 21) at 7:30pm.

The main event, on Saturday September 22, will be ‘David Live’, regarded by many as the best David Bowie tribute act in the UK today.

David Bowie will be eerily reincarnated through the appearance of artist Charles Fowler, who actually grew up living close to David Robert Jones - AKA David Bowie.

Charles will deliver a medley of the most famous Bowie hits promising a real treat for local Bowie fans in attendance.

Tickets can be obtained online at ticketsource.co.uk/fallfest