Santa Claus was busy last weekend with appearances both at a town centre Christmas extravaganza and on the ever-popular Santa Special trains.

The festive figure had a grotto in Keighley Civic Centre for the first time as part of a packed Saturday of Christmas-themed activities.

He also travelled up and down the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on Saturday and Sunday, handing presents to excited children.

Keighley Town Council organised the extravaganza at the Civic Centre in North Street, with activities including Punch and Judy and magic shows.

There were stalls from a host of local traders and good causes, including Keighley and Aire-dale Cancer Support, and the building’s police museum was also open.

Deputy town clerk, Debbie Spink, said: “It was a very good day considering it was the first one we’ve done.

“There were a lot of children and we were busy all day.”

The annual Santa Special, which will run every weekend at Christmas, began with packed steam trains running both days.

Railway spokesman, Jim Shipley, said the Pixies’ Pantry was again open at Oxenhope station shed, offering winter warming refreshments and a Christmas-themed model railway.

Mr Shipley said although all the Santa Specials were “effectively full”, it was worthwhile people calling Haworth station on (01535) 645214 in case seats became available.

He added: “We know there’ll be the odd cancellation. We always go right through the waiting list.”