A SERIES of events in Silsden to celebrate the town's 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart experience got off to a flying start.

Coinciding with the beginning of this year's race, organisers of the Grand deParty entertainments provided French food at churches, along with a French boules tournament, which was played on a temporary court in Silsden Park.

The park is also the focus for activities on Saturday when the Grand deParty continues with the Grand Day Out in Silsden Park.

This is a family fun day, which between 10am and 4pm will feature a full programme of entertainment.

There will be children’s cycling, an obstacle course for dogs, running races, music with Silsden Singers and Silsden Town Band, tennis, Punch and Judy, a teddy bears' picnic at noon, and miniature steam engine rides with Keighley and District Model Engineering Society.

Silsden Playing Fields Bowling Club is also inviting people to come and try crown green bowling.

Silsden’s own junior bike trial expert, Josh McParland, will demonstrate the skills that have made him the under-ten British Champion at bike trial, as well as world number two at under-ten level.

Neil Whitaker, of the Silsden Grand deParty organising group, said: "We'd like people to bring a picnic and enjoy the whole day in the park to celebrate this community space, which was created 80 years ago by Silsden people."