Organisers of this year’s Keighley Gala have called for a big demonstration of public support to ensure the event is a success.

Although the gala, next Saturday, July 7, will not feature a procession, it will include a full day and evening of entertainment in Victoria Park.

Colin Preston, one of the organisers, said: “We’ve scraped everything together but now we just want the people of Keighley to turn out on the day.

“There will be something going on right the way through until the night. There will be plenty for families to see and do.

“We’re desperate for stewards so anyone willing to come and volunteer a couple of hours of service will be most welcome.”

He stressed that even though the gala was such a well established annual local occasion, it did not receive the funding that other events got.

“The only income we have is from the funfair renting the field for the day, but we don’t get that until afterwards,” he said.

He and his fellow organisers hope to be able to re-instate the procession next year.

The fun will start in Victoria Park at 11am and is expected to continue until 11pm.

There will be a Marshalls Entertainments funfair, a wild west show, a baby show, live music acts headlined by the band Night Patrol, a dog show and a tombola featuring prizes donated by stallholders from Keighley Market.

There will also be a raffle, including prizes provided by Keighley electrical business CTV Digital.

The first prize will be a 32in HD television. Raffle tickets will be on sale in the Airedale Shopping Centre from 10am to 4pm this Saturday.

Organiser Andrew Jackson said he and his colleagues were still looking for people to take part in the gala’s Keighley’s Got Talent competition.

Other attractions arranged for the day include face painting, henna artistry, Indian dancing, a choir, refreshments and street entertainers.

If you can help out at the gala contact Mr Preston on 07919 348825, or get in touch with the organisers through the gala website at keighleygala.org.

uk.