KEIGHLEY Festival hopes to win hands down after booking a teenage sports star for the official opening.

International taekwondo champion Leah Moorby will cut the ribbon on the first day of the six-day event on Monday, July 6.

Oakbank School student Leah has won medals in the British and Commonwealth Championships as well as a world bronze medal in Taiwan last year.

Following recent success in the Netherlands she hopes to compete in the Junior European Championships in Latvia later this year.

Leah was invited by festival chairman Malcolm Hanson, who taught her local history when she attended St Joseph’s RC Primary School in Keighley.

He said he was “chuffed to bits” that Leah’s parents agreed she could take time out of her busy sporting schedule to perform the opening ceremony.

Black belt Leah will kick-off an afternoon of entertainment at the Airedale Shopping Centre, including a children’s choir from St Andrew’s Primary School.

There will also appearances by Keighley singer-songwriter Den Miller, the Professor Davies Punch and Judy show, festival mascots Happycat and Dolly, and the festival ghostbusters.

Mr Hanson said: “When I taught Leah local history I found her to be a very warm-hearted, self-confident young person and knew she would do well in life.

“That Leah is fast becoming a rising star in the world of sports and putting Keighley on the map is a wonderful thing for the town.

“Because of her amazing success the festival committee had absolutely no hesitation in having Leah launch the festival.”

Keighley Festival’s annual programme of tea dances will also begin on July 6, at Keighley Civic Centre from 1pm to 3pm.

Keighley old-time and sequence dance expert Deryck Feather, the organiser, will also host a free tea dance at the Airedale Centre on July 10 from 1pm to 3pm.

‘Alan’s Band’ has again been booked to provide live music for the event.

Mr Hanson said: “The tea dance at the Airedale Centre was one of the big hits last year and we expect it to be even better this year.”

Headline events during the festival include a children’s day at East Riddlesden Hall, an improvised theatre performance, a mums-and-tots mini-festival, a 1940s Day and a schools performance. There will also a children’s film festival, curry night, tea parties, a tour of Keighley’s secrets, church fun for children, live music, and ghostbusting in primary schools.

Anyone interested in organising events for the festival should e-mail malcolm.b.hanson@gmail.com or call Malcolm on 01756 798730.