BABY Week Bradford is being celebrated in Keighley.

A packed programme of events is planned as part of the annual initiative, now in its seventh year.

Activities begin next Thursday (November 14) when a baby wellbeing session will be held in the Airedale Shopping Centre, between 9am and 1pm.

The event includes baby weighing, childhood immunisations, health and wellbeing information and advice, details of locally-based services, and the opportunity to meet other families.

Cliffe Castle provides the focus for activities on Wednesday, November 20, when the Wiggle Room Play Bus is visiting.

The bus includes a ball pool, top-to-bottom slide, tunnels, disco lights and a range of play activities, plus a chance to find out about free family services on offer across the district.

Also at the museum that day is Music for Babies.

People can drop in anytime between 10.30am and 2pm and take part in events including musical instrument demonstrations, a music trail, craft activities and dance. There will also be a sensory/quiet space, an interactive projector and a maternity circle session. Light refreshments and healthy snacks will be available.

Various other play events are taking place district-wide during the week, including story and rhymetime sessions, woodland walks and nature play.

Plus a Storyland play day is being held at City Library in Bradford next Thursday (November 14), where people can drop in between 9.30am and 2.30pm.

Kerry Bennett – assistant director of Better Start Bradford, which is hosting the venture with several partner organisations – says: "I can’t believe we're now in our seventh year of bringing the wonderful Baby Week to Bradford.

"This year’s theme is around play and its importance to babies' development. Play helps build communication skills, relationships, confidence and independence and important movement and motor skills, and it’s also a lot of fun.

"I’d like to thank all our partners across the district for working so hard to bring this year’s week of events to life and we look forward to welcoming lots of people."

Full details of the programme can be found at babyweekbradford.org

The initiative also includes activities for sector workers.

Next Thursday, between 10am and 2.30pm, there is an online conference aimed at professionals working in maternity, health and early years.

And onMonday, November 18, Hooray for Play – at the Jubilee Centre, Bradford, 9am-1pm – will see early years workers from across the district explore the value of play.