HUNDREDS of people turned out for an early bonfire in Bentham at the weekend.

Organisers estimate around 1,300 turned out for the event at the Auction Mart on Saturday night.

And hundreds more will be attending other events around the region from Friday, with a variety of organised events taking place over the weekend.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has urged people to attend organised events where possible rather than setting off fireworks in their back garden.

Those who turned out in Bentham braved less than fantastic weather to see the huge fireworks display and bonfire, with some villagers bringing wood along for the fire.

The crowd enjoyed entertainment from a samba band called Sambafriq and the poi swinger, Poppy Avison-Fell, was from Settle.

Food was provided by Nigel Wildman, who provided a hog roast, and Mandy Booth from Simply Delicious, who did pie and peas.

And North Yorkshire Fire Brigade’s Bentham crew brought their engine to the event.

All money raised from the event has to be ploughed back in to putting it on next year.

Organisers say it was held a week early as it allows caravaners from the Riverside Caravan Park to attend.

A number of bonfire and fireworks events will be held around Craven this weekend, starting tomorrow night. Most are ticket only.

Bolton Abbey will hold its annual bonfire and fireworks display on Sunday.

Gates open at 5pm, with entertainment to include fire eaters and traditional fairground rides.

The bonfire will be lit at 6pm with a fireworks display at 6.45pm.

Tickets, which are available at boltonabbey.com, cost £10 for adults, £7.50 for children four to 16. Under 3s go free.

A fireworks extravaganza at Thornton Hall Farm, Thornton-in-Craven, will take place on Saturday.

Gates open at 6pm with fireworks starting at 7.30pm.

There will be a bonfire, live music and entertainment.

Tickets, which are available at thorntonhallcountrypark.co.uk, cost £10 for adults and for £8 children. Under 2s go free.

Carleton-in-Craven will hold a bonfire and fireworks display in the church field on Saturday at Church Field.

The event, like most this year, will be ADVANCE TICKET ONLY. Tickets £6/£3, pre-school free, from The Swan Inn and the Village Hub, or buy online at http://buytickets.at/carletoncommunityumbrella/120822.

Gates open 6 pm, fire lit at 6.30 pm and fireworks at 7 pm. BBQ and refreshments on sale. No sparklers or personal fireworks.

Hot food (barbecue), drinks, sweets and 'Glo-sticks' will be on sale.

Lothersdale Young Farmers will hold a charity bonfire night and fireworks display on Saturday at Buckstones Lane Farm, West Lane, Sutton-in-Craven.

Gates open at 6.30pm, a Guy Fawkes competition will be held at 6.45pm, the bonfire will be lit at 7.15pm and fireworks start at 8pm.

There will be live music, a pie and pea supper, licensed bar and hot and cold drinks.

Tickets, which are available at Costcutter in Sutton and the Old White Bear in Cross Hills, cost £5. Children under 12 go free.

Addingham Primary School will hold its annual fireworks extravaganza on Saturday.

Gates open at 5pm, the bonfire will be lit at 5.15pm and fireworks start at 6.15pm.

There will also be a barbecue, bouncy castle, S'mores and marshmallow tent, tuck shop, glow shop and face painting.

Tickets, which are available buytickets.at/addinghamfireworks, costs £5 for adults £3 for children aged three to 16 and £15 for families.

A bonfire night will be held at Ribblesdale Park in Gisburn on Saturday.

The bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm with a fireworks display at 7.30pm.

The event will include fire entertainers and music.

There will be a food truck by the bonfire and a marquee will have a hog roast and bar available.

Tosside will hold a fireworks night tomorrow.

Tosside Community Hall opens at 7.30pm and there will be fireworks at 8pm.

A supper, which costs £3 per person, will follow. There will be a bar.

If you attend an event and want to send us a picture, you can send it to news@cravenherald.co.uk or upload direct via the link at the bottom of this story.