UP TO 5,000 people attended events during this year’s Keighley Festival, according to organisers.

And a further 1,000 were actually involved in the festival such as performing or running activities.

The festival’s volunteer committee members this week tallied up the estimated figures for the six days of fun-filled activities.

And they proclaimed the extravaganza one of the best-ever in more than two decades of Keighley Festival.

Malcolm Hanson, the outgoing chairman, said some events, like the One Amazing Night concert and the East Riddlesden Hall fun day, were so popular that numbers had to be limited on health and safety grounds.

He said: “We had requests from schools of 500-plus children to attend East Riddlesden Hall but were forced to restrict it to 350.”

Crowds of children and parents packed into Keighley Picture House for screenings of the specially-shot film Built On Faith.

Mr Hanson said: “The film was written, produced and directed by children of St Anne’s and Our Lady of Victories primary schools, with a main cast of 20 children plus 70 extras.”

Mr Hanson cited the festival’s overriding principle – for Keighley people, by Keighley people – as a major reason for this year’s success.

He said: “Keighley Festival does not belong to the committee. We facilitate it, and provide certain events within it, but it is for the people of Keighley to use as a showcase for their talents.”

Simon Booth, the current chairman, said those talents came to the fore in many “fantastic” festival events in the six days following the Tour de France weekend.

They included tea dances, a Flash Mob, a film premiere, concerts, model boat regatta and open day at the Sangat Centre.

Mr Booth said: “Keighley Festival ticks all the boxes – it brings communities together and highlights the very best Keighley has to offer, and lets people have fun while doing it.

“This year was better than ever. It’s a phenomenal festival and we’re always already planning next year.”

Mr Booth wanted to thank the “innumerable” people worked behind the scenes on festival events.

He particularly praised the management of the Airedale shopping centre, which provided the cafe area outside the former Greggs shop for performances.

He said: “They hadn’t decided whether to rent the space out again, but after our tea dance and Flash Mob, they decided to leave it as performance area.

“The tea dance was brilliant – people were watching, applauding and taking pictures while others were dancing.

“I loved the kids’ events – East Riddlesden Hall was just amazing. It shows that the Festival is for everybody from any age and background.”