HUNDREDS of people welcomed Christmas to Haworth as they filled Main Street during its two torchlight processions.

Visitors from far afield joined locals to walk up the cobbles as darkness fell, for the culmination of the village’s annual torchlight weekend.

Many of the adults and children carried lights, and every so often they stopped to sing carols and Christmas songs. On the Sunday the walkers were able to finish off with a special service in Haworth Parish Church.

The huge public attendance during the weekend delighted the new group of Haworth traders who volunteered their time to organise the festivities.

A variety of entertainment was provided up and down Main Street throughout both Saturday and Sunday.

Entertainers included the West Yorkshire Police Band, the Baccapella folk singing group, the Bazzamatazz dancers, the Rainbow Morris dancing troupe, wandering minstrels Reuben, Ian and Bridget, fire juggler Spence, and some Leeds mummers.

Haworth’s fire service cadets volunteered as marshals throughout the weekend, with Santa Claus in their Land Rover at the bottom of Main Street.

The torchlight processions were led by volunteers and fundraisers from Manorlands carrying flaming torches. Many other adults and children carried lamps in the shape of stars, hearts and fireflies, made during workshops at the Hawksbys craft shop.

Hawksbys owner Claire Foster, one of the volunteer organisers, described the weekend’s festivities as “magical”.

She said: “We hadn’t had the flaming torches for a long time. We haven’t had such a response for a lot of years – we had a lot of comments that it was the best torchlight procession they’ve ever been to.

“The community supports the traders on Main Street, so we wanted to give something back at Christmas. We’ve really put ourselves out this year.

“We need to give a big thank you to all the volunteers who helped us during the weekend.”

Haworth’s Christmas festivities will continue on Saturday and Sunday December, 16 and 17 with brass band performances throughout the afternoons in Main Street. There will be a Nativity procession with a donkey on the weekend of December 23 and 24.