SEVERAL Keighley groups came together to create lanterns for the colourful launch of Keighley Arts and Film Festival.

The lanterns, in the forms of fish of all sizes and shapes, will create a magical shoal to parade around the pond at Cliffe Castle on Friday October 11.

The parade in the park, starting at 6.30pm, will herald a weekend packed with performances, screenings, workshops and activities around the town centre.

The lanterns were created from willow stems by members of Cliffe Castle Support Group, Keighley Hft and the Lion’s Den social group, then covered in coloured tissue and lit with LED lights.

The festival will feature several cinema and poetry events with an Asian flavour, at Keighley Creative Space in Hanover Street.

Shareena Lee Satti will read a poem commissioned for the festival on Thursday October 10 at 3pm, and a screening of historical Keighley films on Friday will include excerpts from of Two Leaves of a Shatoot, a film about the experiences of seniors from the Sangat Centre who fought alongside the British Army in the Second World War.

There will be screenings of of the specially-commissioned Why Keighley documentary as well as the winning entry in the Made in the Aire Valley film competition.

Visit kaff.org.uk for further information.