With five weeks to go until the third Ilkley Art Trail, local businesses are brushing up their creative skills and offering some great deals to coincide with the start of the Trail in October.

From cut-price taxis to cheap beer, Ilkley companies are keen to support Ilkley Art Trail this year with some great offers for Art Trail participants.

This year it will be easier than ever to get around as Ilkley Taxis will be offering half price fares around town to Art Trail venues on production of a programme.

Christine Stevenson, who runs Ilkley Taxis said: “We are very proud to be helping the Art Trail this year and believe it is a fantastic event. It will be easy to spot our taxi cabs as they will be decorated with the special Art Trail magnets. Our drivers can reach all IAT venues and we offer personal assistance for less able passengers if it’s requested by phone.”

Supporters and volunteers will also be sporting the special Ilkley Art Trail car magnets on their own vehicles leading up to the Trail, from October 9-13.

Ilkley Art Trail 2013 promises to turn the town into a whole exhibition space, with artists opening up their homes and studios to the public during the five-day event. Other artists will be showing their work in shops, hotels, pubs and several more unusual venues, including a dentists’ practice, a vets’ practice and an osteopath’s therapy room.

There will be 45 artists exhibiting, ranging from photographers to printmakers, jewellers to ceramicists and painters to sculptors.

Italian coffee shop, La Stazione will offer a free Ilkley Art Trail chocolate logo to anyone who shows their programme at the Ilkley station cafe.

“We can put the logo on the cappuccino or the cafe latte,” said owner Enzo Piscicelli. “As a local business we’re really proud to support Ilkley Art Trail.”

Meanwhile, the Flying Duck, a brand new pub which is set to open in the next few weeks, will be offering a pound off a pint of beer to anyone who presents a programme during the five days of the Trail.

Flying Duck spokesman, Jonathan Shepherd said: “The team at the Flying Duck on Church Street, Ilkley’s new Brew Pub, are pulling out all the stops to be open in time to give thirsty art trailers £1 off their first pint from the Wharfedale Brewery range.”

Ilkley Art Trail organisers are hoping this year’s event will attract art-lovers from near and far. The trail attracted 4,000 visitors last year with artists’ sales topping £20,000.

For more information visit: ilkleyarttrail.org.uk