IN the days before mass tourism a simple day trip would be one of the highlights of the year for many ordinary people.

Factory, church and choir outings were eagerly anticipated - and the sight of charabancs in the countryside and at the seaside became a regular occurrence in the early 20th century.

Ilkley and the surrounding area attracted charabanc trips from the mill towns and cities of Yorkshire and Lancashire. And seaside towns such as Scarborough were also popular destinations for many group, including some of the Aireborough people in these photographs.

Yeadon company Isaac Croft and Sons was one of the many around the country offering weekend excursions. Some of their vehicles doubled up as lorries during the week - with bodies that could be lifted on and off to allow them to be converted.

Some day-trippers developed a reputation for dangerous or riotous behaviour - with reports that works events in particular were sometimes accompanied by large amounts of alcohol.

In 1910 the Ilkley Gazette reported that a Burley-in-Wharfedale cyclist was left in the road with a fractured skull after an accident with two charabancs and a car which appeared to be racing each other near Micklefield.

All photographs are courtesy of Aireborough Historical Society.