A POPULAR annual classic vehicle gathering is taking place again this summer.

And the event will include an appearance in the skies above the venue by a Spitfire from the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The gathering is being held at Keighley Rugby Union Football Club, Utley, on Sunday, July 14, from 10am to 5pm.

Vehicle exhibitors will include members of the Craven Old Wheels Society, Chevin Motor Club, Dales Historic Vehicle Club, the Northern branch of the XR Owners Club and Keighley Bus Museum Trust, together with private owners.

There will also be a classic fire engine which visitors can climb aboard.

Other attractions will include Taylor's Amusements, stalls selling a variety of products, ferret racing with the Worth Valley Ferret Welfare Group, and a birds of prey display by Angel Falconry.

Refreshments will provided by the rugby club.

All proceeds from the event will go to Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice, Manorlands.

Tony Anderton, who with his wife Cathy organises the gathering, says: "Although the main focus of the day is on vehicles, the purpose is to raise funds for Manorlands, and that motivates Cathy and myself to keep the gathering going from year to year.

"I would like to thank Keighley Rugby Union Football Club for once again providing the venue."

Entry for exhibitors is £5 per vehicle – pre-booking isn't required. Courtesy of Carmeleon Bodyshop and Repair Centre, an exhibitor rosette will be given to the first 250 arrivals.

Public admission is via a donation.

"One hundred per cent of all monies raised goes directly to Manorlands," Mr Anderton adds.

Last year's gathering was a huge success.

Around 200 vehicles were on display, and over £2,000 was raised.

Manorlands supports patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families at the hospice and in the community, across an area covering Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale as well as parts of Bradford.

All services are provided free to patients and their loved ones, but it costs more than £10,000 a day to keep the hospice doors open.

Only a small part of the cost is covered by statutory funding.

The hospice has seen expenditure on its day-to-day running rise by a fifth over the past 18 months or so, with the cost of delivering an hour of care increasing from £21 to £25.

And the number of people needing end-of-life care is predicted to soar by over half by 2030.