Squirrel spotting is a success for Alanis, 11, from Keighley (From Keighley News)

Squirrel spotting is a success for Alanis, 11, from Keighley

10:30am Monday 8th October 2012 in News

An 11-year-old Keighley girl collected £100 worth of shopping vouchers after winning an Airedale Shopping Centre competition.

Alanis Wilson, of North Dean Avenue, was one of more than 400 youngsters who took part in the Find The Filbert contest.

Entrants had to find ten different-coloured pictures of the face of the Airedale Centre children’s club mascot, Filbert the Squirrel, which were scattered around ten of the centre’s 80 stores.

Alanis, a pupil at Oakbank School in Keighley, said she was happy and excited to have won. She is sharing her voucher winnings with her sister and two brothers.

Airedale Shopping Centre manager, Steve Seymour, said she was one of 50 entrants who located all the faces and her name was selected in a random draw.

He said her win would also give her a chance to meet the TV celebrity who will switch on Keighley’s Christmas lights.

He expected the celebrity would be a contestant eliminated from the X-Factor show early next month.

The Airedale Centre introduced its children’s club, along with Filbert the Squirrel, in October last year.

Last month, the centre announced that the club had now grown to at least 500 members.

Owen and Bradley Pillinger took the club to the landmark 500-member total by recently joining up. The young brothers received a surprise visit from Filbert and were awarded a certificate.

Mr Seymour said: “The centre’s kids club, which includes the parent and guardian parking system, has proved to be incredibly popular – more so than we had ex- pected.

“I was lucky enough to be in the office when Owen and Bradley’s mum came in and registered the boys, and the fact it was Owen’s birthday was great. Filbert enjoyed celebrating both events.

“The parking system we operate means that parents and guardians with children under five can make use of the allocated wider parking spaces, which are essential for them when shopping at the centre.”