Christmas is now in full swing across the district and youngsters have really been getting into the festive spirit.

  • Among those are school children in Ilkley who, before breaking up for the holidays, got to have festive fun on their way to and from the classroom.

The town’s most colourful school bus, the 499 service, has once again been decked with tinsel and decorations, adorned with festive stencilling, children’s pictures, banners, penguins, snowmen, and even a small Christmas tree.

The seasonal theme is the work of driver, Mick Silverwood, and school bus escort, Mandy Chapman.

The two dress up the bus, operated by Transdev in Keighley as part of the MyBus yellow school bus network, each year for Halloween and Christmas.

The service ferries children to and from Ilkley primary schools to their homes in Ilkley and Addingham.

  • Also adding a bit of festive fun into the school day in the run up to Christmas was Ilkley Grammar School.

Robin, Rudolph, snowman, Santa or elf? This was just the first question students the students had to answer on Friday morning… and that was before they were even in school!

Students and staff at the school all sported a variety of Christmas themed jumpers in aid of Save the Children. Everyone donated a £1 for the privilege of wearing their Christmas jumper with all the money raised going to the Philippines via Save the Children. In total they raised £1,400.

Headteacher Gillian James said: “It was a fun day, with Christmas dinner at lunch adding to the festive spirit. The countdown to Christmas really has begun and all for a very good cause. In the meantime, however, learning continues so we make the most of the end of term.”

  • Meanwhile, every pupil at Ashlands Primary School in Ilkley got dressed up to take part in the school’s annual Nativity production.