HAWORTH’S Main Street was bathed in light for two successive evenings as the village celebrated its latest Torchlight Weekend.

The atmospheric annual occasion, organised by traders and residents, always attracts hundreds of locals and visitors.

Last weekend’s (Dec 8-9) torchlight parade was as popular as ever, despite wet and windy weather on the Saturday. This was compensated for the following evening, with participants appreciating crisp, dry conditions.

Both processions began near the Christmas tree at the bottom of Main Street in the early evening, with people carrying either flaming torches or battery powered illuminated wands.

People sang Christmas carols, accompanied by music from the West Yorkshire Police Brass Band, before beginning a slow march up the street, pausing to sing more carols along the way.

The parades were led by an energetic display of fire juggling and watched by scores of onlookers lining the street.

Sunday’s procession ended with a well-attended carol service in Haworth Parish Church.

This year, Haworth Torchlight Weekend was also used to collect money for Manorlands.

Among the crowd marching up Main Street on the Sunday, were Riddlesden-based couple Nigel and Anne Dodds with their 11-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son.

Mr Dodds, 41, who said he had been coming to the torchlight weekends for about five years, said: “The kids really love it, and I can definitely see us continuing to come for a few years more.

“I think the organisers do a really good job each year, and it really brings the whole community together.

“There’s so much technology competing for children’s attention these days, so it’s nice to bring them along to something which has a more old-fashioned, traditional feel.”

Attending from a little further were Hebden Bridge friends Patrick Macintryre, 51, and Nicola Ferris, 45.

Miss Ferris said: “We both love Haworth and wouldn’t want to miss this experience. Our families live down south and we’ve brought them along in previous years, and they’ve said its the best public Christmas event they’ve ever been to.”

This coming Thursday evening (Dec 13) shops in Haworth will be open late for shoppers to pick up Christmas gifts.

The weekend of December 15 and 16 will see brass bands performing, and the following weekend will feature Haworth’s annual Nativity weekend.