THE ANNUAL Concert on the Grove gave a big send-off to this year's Ilkley Summer Festival on Saturday night.

Revellers packed onto The Grove for the Ilkley Parish Council-organised concert, which forms the finale to the month-long festival.

As ever, the audience enjoyed Last Night of the Proms favourites, as well as a selection of other music throughout the event, performed by the bandstand.

Almost all the tickets for the event sold out, and members of the audience and participants alike have thanked the organisers for the successful evening.

Councillor Mike Gibbons, who organises the concert on behalf of the council, said: "The weather was really very kind to us, and I think everybody had a good time. I've had a number of e-mails from people saying they thought it was the best ever."

He said people have already been asking about another concert next summer.

Entertainment on the night came from saxophonist Dave Wilson, singer Gerry Soulful, and the Marsden Silver Prize Band, which was joined by soprano, Elizabeth Frankland.

The concert brought to an end this year's Ilkley Summer Festival.

The festival began on August 1 - Yorkshire Day - which also marked the 150th anniversary of the railway coming to Ilkley.

The festival continued throughout the month, with a range of activities, events and performances, ranging from sports events and heritage walks to concerts and special weekend events.

Despite contending with reduced funding from many potential sources, the festival once again brought many special events to the town during August.

The continental street market took over The Grove from August 7 to 9.

As well as events throughout the week, the festival staged bigger events on each weekend in the month. The Forties to Noughties concert on August 15 brought a touch of nostalgia to The Grove, before Dominic Halpin and the Honey Bs starred in the ever-popular Dolce Vita open air cabaret on The Grove the same evening.

The long running Ilkley Flower Show formed part of the festival's programme on August 22, while a new addition this year, from August 21 to 23, was the Ilkley Jazz Festival.