CINDERELLA waved from a glittering coach. Another year, an elephant balanced on as rotating ball.

There were boxing cats and a dancing butterfly - and many more memorable illuminations that graced the centre of Heckmondwike as Christmas approached.

Now, Neil West and Kim Strickson, from Kirklees Council's community history service, are gathering stories, memories, photographs and facts about the history of Heckmondwike's illuminations.

An exhibition will be held in November this year.

Kim said: "Some information can be gleaned from local newspaper archives, council minutes and old guide books, but other historical gems are locked away in the memories of local people."

The story of Heckmondwike's lights began in 1885. The first ones were gas-powered.

R A Clayborn took photographs of the illuminations from the 1930s onwards, but these appear to have gone missing.

Neil and Kim also want to know if anyone remembers Noel Wadsworth, former secretary of Heckmondwike's Chamber of Trade, said to be the man who knew more about the lights than anyone.

Neil and Kim will be available for a chat tomorrow on a stall in Heckmondwike open market from 9.30am to 3pm.