Organisers of Ilkley Carnival have announced a target-busting £15,000 was raised for good causes at last week’s event.

With 10,500 visitors through the gates – 2,000 more than last year – and £3,000 more raised, primary beneficiary LS29 Support Group will receive a £7,500 donation.

The remaining funds will be distributed among charities and groups that supported the Bank Holiday Monday event.

The fundraising total is the highest in at least a decade.

Chairman Andrew Stacey said the benefits of this year’s Ilkley Carnival had reached further than any previous year.

“We are not only delighted by this incredible sum of money raised for our local community but also by just how broad our reach is becoming,” he said.

“This year saw the busiest run- up to Ilkley Carnival, with our social media push to find a free Wii for Ilkley Stroke Club, the introduction of free fairground rides for LS29, more entries than ever in our Carnival Creative competition, crowds on Saturday and Sunday in the Hollygarth for our first ever Ilkley Rocks and a fantastic show of community support for our shop-window dressing initiative, which has now been extended across Yorkshire to support the Tour de France.”

Karen Goodman, from LS29, said the group’s members were staggered by the funds raised.

She said: “This is such an incredible amount of money for a group the size of ours. It means so much to so many people and will ensure we can continue to support existing and new families of children with special needs.”

She added: “We’ve had an influx of inquiries about our activities and even had new families join since we were selected as Ilkley Carnival’s primary beneficiary. While the money is an incredible boost, the experience of being a part of this fantastic local event has been worth its weight in gold, not only to us as a group but to the many families of children with special needs who now know we are here for them.”

Parade participants topped 1,500 in the Yorkshire Tour-themed event, which saw All Saints Primary School take Best School in Parade and Best in Parade awards on the day.

Ben Rhydding Primary, Ashlands Primary and Westville School took joint runner-up Best in School award and Ben Rhydding Scout and Guide Group won Best Organisation/Charity in Parade.

llkley Pre-School was runner-up in the Best Organisation/Charity in Parade category.

Visit ilkleycarnival.org to see pictures from the event.