OAKWORTH Community Trust is spreading festive cheer across the village.

A range of seasonal activities is being staged by the organisation.

There will be a raffle, with a top prize of a Christmas hamper worth over £150.

Children’s parties can’t be held due to the Covid-19 restrictions, but the trust’s events team is arranging to take Santa and his elves to youngsters. Details will appear on the trust Facebook page.

An Advent calendar event is also being staged.

More than 30 windows in houses, shops, churches, the village hall and businesses are being illuminated with festive scenes.

One or two scenes are being lit-up each day until Christmas Eve and will remain lit until New Year’s Day.

The trust is raising funds by offering people the chance to buy a 12-month village lottery entry as a gift for family and friends. The cost is £12 for the year – with a gift certificate, plus double prizes for December.

Oakworth Community Trust was formed to take over the running of Oakworth Village Hall, formerly Holden Hall, in Colne Road when it was threatened with closure as part of Bradford Council budget cuts.

Volunteers stage a variety of events.

Among activities held over the autumn was a hugely-successful Halloween Pumpkin Trail.

It was organised after children’s parties and trick or treating couldn’t take place due to the pandemic.

“Our calendar of events had to be cancelled due to the restrictions and the hall closed to regular users so this was the first opportunity we had to arrange an activity – albeit outdoors – for the community and also raise some much-needed funds,” said a trust spokesman.

“Starting at the village hall, over 250 people took part in the trail – which was staffed entirely by our events team, with the help of many volunteers.

“The team ensured everyone was kept safe and maintained social distancing whilst they looked for 26 pumpkins and found spooky words.

“The trail took people through the village, into the park, down through the caves and into the Dockroyd graveyard – which allowed people to also see the work carried out by the Dockroyd Graveyard Trust.”

Back at the village hall, an outdoors stall sold refreshments, with cakes and biscuits donated by residents and volunteers.

“The event was a great success and even a torrential downpour didn’t dampen spirits,” said the spokesman.