SNOWPEOPLE are taking over Otley as the town gets into the Christmas spirit.

This weekend sees the start of the largest ever Otley Snowman Town Centre Trail with more than seventy shops and businesses entering, plus several late entries.

Not only have the snow people taken over many shops and businesses in the town centre - but they have even taken over the phone box in the Market Square.

Co-organiser of the trail, Callum Francis said:“It is not a case of E.T. phone home, but more a case of having a central area where we can give out up to date information on the Trail, tell people where the businesses are that have entered, and keep the public informed on what is going on. We have had a number of problems, but fingers crossed everything should be in place either this weekend or early next week.”

Cllr Nigel Francis, who is also organising the event, said:“This weekend we hope as many people as possible can come down to the Buttercross and support us by buying Christmas goods, etc.

"We hope that we will be able to hand out the Official Snowman Trail Booklet, and as this is possibly the largest event in Otley over the Christmas period, we hope to spread some happiness to everyone, old and young.

"To run this event and our Charity, ‘Hang on to a Dream,’ along with the Otley Vintage transport Extravaganza costs us thousands of pounds and due to the pandemic funds are low at the moment, but as we have said before, the show must go on."

As soon as the books arrive in Otley, they will be put into shops and businesses for the public to pick up. They will be in The Core, (the Council Offices), Orchard Gate and Otley Library, as well as other sites to be listed on the web-site www.otleysnowmantrail.weebly.com , and in the phone box windows.

Organisers decided to go ahead with the event after numerous requests and following careful consideration to be sure it wouldn’t contribute to spreading Covid.

Cllr Francis said: “The year 2021 has been, yet another, traumatic year which has touched everyone and brought much sadness to many people. With popular events cancelled such as the Victorian Fayre, the Otley Vintage Transport Extravaganza, the Carnival, Otley Show and Christmas lights turning on night, to name but a few, this year, as well as last year, is I am sure a year we all want to forget. After cancelling the OVTE we were hoping that we could at least do one event to put a smile on everyone’s face as Christmas approaches."

"The Otley Snowman Trail will take place from Friday, November 26 to Saturday, December 18.