A SNOWMAN Trail will be launched in Otley this winter.

Town Mayor Councillor Nigel Francis is organising the event to boost the town's profile and support his 14+1 charity appeal.

The veteran fundraiser is inviting local homes and businesses to use any material they like to create a snow man or woman.

The resulting collection of snow people will be displayed from December 1 to 17 and is intended to delight shoppers while complementing Otley's other seasonal attractions.

Cllr Francis (Ind, Danefield), who began distributing forms to publicise the scheme and invite entries this week, said: "With the very uncertain weather throughout the last few years we can never, in England, guarantee snow.

"Now Otley is saying that if we cannot have snow to build snow men and women with, then let’s have a snow person trail.

"Let everyone in Otley build their own snow person out of whatever they want - wood, bed sheets, drums, cans, in fact anything that comes to mind.

"Let there be a snow person in every house or garden and in every business in the town.

"We can then invite everyone to come to Otley and put Otley on the map as the snowman capital of Yorkshire, England and the world!"

Entering the trail is free, though donations* in support of the 14+1 appeal will be welcomed and cheques can be made payable to Otley Town Mayor's Appeal.

Entry forms should be returned by November 18 to: Councillor Nigel Francis, 6 Pearsons Buildings, Otley, LS21 3BQ or can be dropped off at Otley Core, on Orchard Gate.

Cllr Francis, who organises the annual Otley Vintage Transport Extravaganza, added: "I know many people doubted that we could put on a transport rally more than 22 years ago but we took it on and it has become a major event in the Otley calendar that many people look forward to.

"Now I want to try something totally new with this snow person trail.

"This, I hope, will be a big event and link well with events such as the Christmas Tree Festival at the Parish Church, the Victorian Fayre and the ‘missing sheep’ trail, run by the Methodist Church.

"Christmas is a fun time and I want people to visit Otley to have fun, enjoy shopping and enjoy looking at the snow men, women and children.

"We shall also have a competition asking people to find the letters in certain businesses next to their snow person, put them together into a Christmas slogan and send in their entries.

"And there will be a prize for the best snow person."

*Anyone who enters and donates £5 of more to the mayor's appeal will receive a free limited edition Otley calendar and Christmas card.