ILKLEY Carnival has announced 51 local businesses will be backing the May Day bank holiday event.

With 13 new supporters signed up for this year’s fantasy and fiction themed carnival on Monday, May 4, the committee has confirmed sponsorship is offering more support than ever.

For the third year running, Kashmiri Aroma will be the main sponsor of Ilkley Carnival and managing director Tariq Mahmood is delighted to see other local names from the district getting involved.

Tariq Mahmood said: “We’re proud to be sponsoring an event that helps give back to our community through a variety of different projects and organisations. We are really excited about this year’s event and look forward to adding our Kashmiri touch to the carnival showground. Ilkley Carnival is a truly great day to be part of and it’s fantastic to see other businesses following suit!”

New this year is Abbeyfield Ilkley Society, which is helping kickstart the day by sponsoring the carnival’s VIP bus and infamous parade, which sets off at 11.30am on The Grove. The committee has reported that entries are up on last year, which saw over 1,200 schoolchildren, charities and organisations take part.

Other key 2015 supporters are Linley & Simpson, sponsors of the under-12s football tournament, Spooner Industries, which is sponsoring the VIP tent and Westville House School, sponsors of the craft tent.

Businesses are also supporting the committee of volunteers by helping out on carnival day. The Loafer Bakery team is supplying food for all helpers and refreshments in the VIP tent and local company B&TS is supplying all bins. Meanwhile, helping with sales of advanced tickets are local Ilkley retailers Nora’s Interiors & Gifts, The Little Teahouse, Shoe Be Do and Ilkley Tourist Information. This year’s bumper carnival programme will also showcase some of the district’s local businesses with adverts, editorial and money-off vouchers.

Ilkley Carnival committee member Jackie Davison said: “We are absolutely delighted to have so many great local businesses on board backing this year’s carnival.

“To fulfil the wishes of the four schools chosen as this year’s primary beneficiaries and the other local groups and charities who help on the day, we now need the rest of our community to wave their wands and get behind Ilkley Carnival by buying tickets and coming to the showground after the parade.”

Advance tickets for the carnival are now on sale online from ilkleycarnival.org priced at £ 28 and May 2.

Tickets on the day will be priced at £4 per adult and £1 per child.