A DEMENTIA Fete in Keighley's town centre raised more than £1,000 to support an ongoing campaign to make the town more inviting for people with this condition.

The event was staged by the Dementia Friendly Keighley group (DFK) in the Airedale Shopping Centre on May 20, and also marked the end of this year's Dementia Awareness Week.

Recently appointed Keighley town mayor Councillor Mohammed Nazam launched the occasion, in what was his first public engagement as mayor.

A DFK spokesman Sandra Kelly said: "The Woolpack concert band got the fete underway with a selection of old familiar tunes, and there was hilarious Street Theatre from Mark Mark Productions.

"There were also demonstrations from the Singing Teapot, which is a local 'singing for the brain' group supported by Rotary Club Keighley and the chair exercise group which meets every Monday morning at Central Hall from 11.15am.

"Finishing off the fete was singer Geoff Grayson who performed some songs from the 1950s and 60s.

"Children enjoyed face painting, craft activities and the bouncy castle."

Various groups and organisations were represented on the day and available for people to speak to about all dementia related subjects.

Among the groups supporting the fete were: Alzheimer’s Society, AGE UK, Airedale NHS Trust, Welcome Project, Bradford District Care Trust Research Department, Cliffe Castle Museum, Driving Miss Daisy, Keighley Central Hall, Little Islands, Memory Tree and the Rotary Club.

Ms Kelly said: "We were lucky enough to have Keighley in Bloom present on the day too, selling plants and adding that ‘village fete’ feel to the occasion.

"Table tennis was also demonstrated, to preview the fact that new table tennis sessions will be made available for people with dementia and their carers.

"It is fabulous that the table tennis club are to provide these specific table tennis sessions.

"The more we can keep people doing what they can for as long as possible, the more this will enable them to live well with their dementia.

"Also, activity like table tennis stimulates the brain, helps with co-ordination and is of course great exercise too.

"We'd like to express our enormous thanks to all our volunteers who helped us at the fete, including staff from Skipton Building Society and the many people who donated items to our stalls.

"And thanks to Airedale Shopping Centre manager Steve Seymour and all the centre's staff for their continued support of Dementia Friendly Keighley."