THE Ilkley Carnival creative competition is back for the sixth year with hopes to motivate children into putting pen to paper and get creative for a chance to be a part of this year’s carnival.

With this year’s theme ‘TV programmes’ in mind, the annual competition is encouraging children across the LS29 district (aged five to 16) to create a drawing, painting or digital design that will feature on the front cover of the carnival programme which will be handed to visitors before and on the day of the May 7 Bank Holiday event.

Last year, the carnival committee received hundreds of entries inspired by the ‘At the movies’ theme. The winning artwork was created by Ava Jones, nine, from Ghyll Royd School, which included popcorn and popular movie characters, was used for the cover of last years' programme.

The Ilkley Carnival committee judges the competition and chairman Andrew Stacey said: “The creative competition is always something we look forward to each year as part of the carnival countdown. It gives children the chance to get involved from the start and hopefully this year’s TV theme will get their minds whirring thinking of fun, quirky and amazing ideas!”

There are three entry categories for the competition which are children aged 5-8, 9-11 and 12-16. The committee will choose one winner for the cover of the programme and select category winners who will be invited on stage to receive a goodie bag from Bettys Café Tea Rooms and their framed artwork to take home on carnival day.

Samantha Draper, branch Manager at Bettys Café Tea Rooms, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Ilkley Carnival for the sixth year. The carnival is a huge event for Ilkley and we love being involved! We are always impressed by the terrific standard of the artwork the local children produce and we are looking forward to seeing the creative ideas they come up with this year.”

All entries must be received by Wednesday, March 7 and delivered in an envelope clearly marked ‘Ilkley Carnival Cover Competition’ to Approach PR, 32-34 The Grove, Ilkley, LS29 9EE. Please ensure your name, age, entry category, address and contact number or email is clearly written on the back of each entry.

If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor of Ilkley Carnival or for more information about the Ilkley Carnival creative competition, or Ilkley Carnival go to www.ilkleycarnival.org or follow @ilkleycarnival on Twitter for all the latest updates.