A CALENDAR featuring local scenery and architecture has gone on sale to generate funds for Christmas festivities in Ilkley.

Ilkley Carnival committee came up with the idea which has been sponsored by 12 local businesses so that all funds raised will go towards the cost of providing Christmas trees in Ilkley and Ben Rhydding.

Ilkley Town Council has met the annual expenditure since Bradford Council stopped funding the trees, and Ilkley Carnival made a contribution in 2018 and this year came up with the idea of a calendar.

The 2020 Ilkley Calendar is available for £5 from the customer services desk at Tesco on Springs Lane. It will also be on sale at the Christmas lights switch-on in Ilkley on Saturday. It is also available online at www.ilkleycarnival.org. Ilkley Carnival chairman Andrew Stacey said: “We have been overwhelmed by the community’s response to get this project off the ground. Residents sent us hundreds of photographs and the 12 local companies that funded the cost have been amazing. These are the same businesses that support the main Carnival May Day event every year and when we asked them to put their hand in their pocket yet again for the good of the town they delivered.

“One of the sponsors Pinnacle put the calendar together and did a stunning job of capturing the flavour of the area. Now we just need residents to support us to make this a success and ensure Christmas is saved! We all know what a beautiful place we live in so let’s send our Ilkley Calendar around the world this Christmas and show everyone else.”