MALHAM will hold its annual safari this weekend - and this year's theme is the pantomime.

The event will see dozens of animals, built by local volunteers, situated around the village dressed as familiar pantomime characters.

The animals will form part of the safari trial quiz and there will also be a hiking boot counting competition for younger ones.

Safari chairman Geoffrey Swales said: “Local volunteers and businesses work vary hard which is why the safari has grown in popularity each year. It’s a great low-cost family day out and we are expecting more than 10,000 visitors this year.

“We are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Pennine Way, just up the road at Malham Tarn, so we have a bit of a hiking theme with some of the animals.”

“We have more entertainment than ever, with morris dancers, magic shows, belly dancers and this year, for the first time, axe throwing!”

In addition to the popular Safari Café, there will be various events all week such as archery, coconut shy, wellie-wanging, duck racing, face painting, and stream dipping.

The safari will run from Saturday to Wednesday, starting at 10am daily.