HOLMFIRTH will survive the axing of hit comedy Last Of the Summer Wine.

The town made famous by the antics of Compo, Cleggy and Nora is determined to forge ahead with new ventures.

And traders in the town believe there is still enough in Holmfirth to continue attracting the huge number of visitors who have flocked there for more than three decades.

Many were upset that the BBC decided to cull the world’s longest-running comedy series.

Many of the stars who have appeared in the series over the past 37 years have seen Holmfirth as their second home – and for one, the late Bill Owen, who played Compo, it became his permanent resting place.

Greg Christofi, of the Holme Valley Business Association, said: “It is sad news to hear it is ending but Holmfirth will go on.

“The series has brought businesses and jobs here, as well as many thousands of visitors, but we will survive and prosper.

“The programme will still be shown on cable channels here and across the world and I am sure the many American visitors we get will still come here.

“We now have to look at other ways of tempting people here and that process is well under way. We have just had the successful film festival, we had our first food and drink festival and we are in the middle of our huge Arts Festival.

“We also want to stage a flower festival and we will work long and hard to make sure Holmfirth survives”.

He added: “If it wasn’t for Summer Wine, then Holmfirth would not be what it is today. But we will not die now it has gone”.

Holmfirth greengrocer Andrew Bray said: “Last of the Summer Wine will still be around for many years to come – we’ve got 37 years of repeats to go at.

“It is finding new audiences all the time. Two TV companies in America bought it last year and we are getting more American visitors to Holmfirth than ever.

"Summer Wine helped Holmfirth through a difficult time following the decline of the textile industry, but it is only a small part of what goes on now – with events like the folk festival and the art festival.”

But Mr Bray added: “It’s a shame that they stop making shows like that. They say it costs too much to make, but it has a long shelf life. Look at Dad's Army. They still get good viewing figures. Instead, they are spending millions on ‘instant’ television with a limited shelf life, like X-Factor.”

Summer Wine writer Roy Clarke has also mourned its passing.

He said: “It was bound to happen eventually. Everybody’s knocking on, including the writer.

“How do you think I feel? It’s like your wife’s left you.

“I have no quarrel with the BBC about it ending. Let’s face it – they’ve supported me for nearly 40 years so I can’t complain”.