A NEW 'John Lewis' style Christmas advert for Otley is proving a hit online.

The short film, showing a lonely young man working in London at Christmas while pining for his Otley home, has been viewed by 40,000 people in its first week.

Devised by Otley-based tourism marketing agency All About The Story, the advert - which went live on visitotley.co.uk on November 3 - has also been picking up a lot of praise from viewers.

Comments posted on Facebook so far include one from Anne Nixon, hailing it the "Best Christmas video ever!', while Jacqueline Sarah Bradley posted: "My beautiful home town. So lucky to have lived here all my life."

Canada-based Yorkshire woman Tracy Oyenubi said: "So lovely. Made me a little homesick..."

Those are exactly the kinds of comments Otley Town Council and others involved in promoting Otley, and its Christmas-time offering, to a wider audience were hoping for.

Chairman of the council’s Trade and Tourism Committee, Councillor Paul Carter (Lib Dem, West Chevin) said: "Christmas in Otley is unique from our fabulous festivals such as the perennial favourite, the Victorian Fayre, to our incredible array of independent shops that allow people to provide Christmas dinner all sourced from a few miles around Otley.

"Our festive film shows our warm and welcoming offering, as well as providing what we hope is a happy end for all involved."

Jackie Mulligan of sponsors ShopAppy.com said: “Otley is one of the key locations featured on our website thanks to its unique shopping offering. We are proud to be involved in this fun film that highlights how important local shopping is to a community.”

The film is part of a wider social media campaign based around the theme Make Yours an Otley Christmas.

Designed to pack an emotional punch, it shows the 'son', played by Ilkley-born actor Robson Stroud, alone in the capital while his mother - Otley resident and Yeadon Operatics Society member Pam Beck - is busily preparing for Christmas Day.

It also features cameos from well-known characters in the town, a sing-a-long in an Otley pub and a number of 'Easter eggs' (hidden messages or in-jokes) for viewers to spot.

The advert has been sponsored by online local shopping business Shopappy.com whose founder, Jackie Mulligan, said: "Otley is one of the key locations featured on our website thanks to its unique shopping offering.

"We are proud to be involved in this fun film that highlights how important local shopping is to a community."

Many of the town’s independent shops feature in the film, which was shot and edited by Miles Charlesworth of Menston-based MCharMedia.

Its soundtrack features a seasonal take on the traditional folk song The Oak and The Ash, arranged by Otley resident Sally Egan, of Opera North, with vocals provided by her daughter, Sylvia Cullen.

Recorded at Otley's Limbo Studios, owned by folk musician Phil Snell,the song will be available to buy as a digital download from November 27 - with profits going to the Otley Town Mayor's 14+1 charity appeal.