KEIGHLEY Festival bosses have blasted businesses, churches and councillors for not supporting the annual event.

The volunteer committee has called for more hands-on involvement from groups and politicians in the town.

Members say they are “going on the warpath” to persuade Keighley’s business community and other organisations to get serious about promoting the town’s talent.

Festival chairman, Malcolm Hanson, said in the light of ever-dwindling public finances, the motto this year is ‘Keighley festival needs you!’.

The entertainment extravaganza will run from July 6 to 11, with more than 30 shows and functions for various ages.

Bradford Council and Keighley Town Town Council have each agreed to provide funding.

But Mr Hanson said: “We rarely get anything more than a small amount of help offered from the business world, and quite often we feel we are offered no more than ‘crumbs from the rich man’s table’.

“With the ever-present cuts threatening to destroy possibly the last community event of its kind in the north, we are here to say we don’t need crumbs.

“What we need is that rich man and his table, and if it makes us unpopular in getting it, then so be it!”

Mr Hanson said there will be 1,000 performers involved in the festival this year, including 500 children from Keighley.

He added: “If they are happy to work hard to make the festival a success then surely we all should all be doing the same.”

Festival vice-chairman, Simon Booth, called for similar support from all religious denominations in Keighley.

He said: “Why aren’t they opening up their premises within the festival, perhaps showing off their churches, chapels, and mosques, or holding special events or services celebrating the town?

“While we try to reach out to everybody, we do feel such people have an obligation to seek us out too. This is a not a one-way street – we can’t do everything!”

Festival secretary, Keighley town councillor Andrea Walker, claims other elected members sit back every year and pay lip-service to the festival for a job well done.

She added: “If you represent your community then you should be actively involved, not just showing your support for it.

“This is Keighley showing the world what it has to offer, and it has a lot.”

E-mail malcolm.b.hanson.@gmail.com or contact Mr Hanson on 01756 798730.