Huge crowds flocked to Slaithwaite to mark an historic anniversary.

They were there to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival, a quirky event based on a bizarre Colne Valley legend.

And despite the biting cold of a February night, the thousands who packed into the village centre had a fabulous time.

The highlight, of course, was the re-enactment of the legend itself.

Hundreds turn out to Slaithwaite's 30th raking out the moon festival, on a clear February evening.

A large glowing moon was ceremonially dumped in the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, flowing through the centre of the village.

And local volunteers dressed up as women representing the band of smugglers, who had hidden illicit barrels of rum in the waterway. They were trying to retrieve them but told excise officers who came upon the scene they were trying to fish out the reflection of the moon.

Were you at the festival? See if you can spot yourself in our bumper gallery!

The giant moon was just one of a number of stunning lanterns which had been created in a series of workshops and events in the run-up to the festival, which now takes place every other year.

The theme of this year’s festival was Landmarks and it lived up to the billing.

There was a scale model of Stonehenge, a model of London’s famous Tower Bridge and even a reduced-size version of the Angel of the North statue, as well as a huge lighthouse.

And, of course, no anniversary party would be complete without a special cake, complete with candle. It was made by youngsters from The Basement club.

Hundreds turn out to Slaithwaite's 30th raking out the moon festival, on a clear February evening.

Many of those who turned out for Saturday’s finale to the week-long festival were young children, who spent part of their half-term holiday making their own lanterns to join in the colourful and noisy procession through Slaithwaite.

Afterwards, there was a family Ceilidh and a series of music performances in the bars and clubs.

The festival was the brainwave of Gill Bond and Andy Burton from performance arts group Satellite Arts, based in The Watershed in Bridge Street.

Gill said: “It is testament to the local people who have helped organise and run the event over the years.

“It was a perfect night, cold but with a stunning moon.

“We have to thank all those who helped in the build-up, with 900 turning out in the workshops to make 211 lanterns.

“There is an awful lot of work goes into the organisation and we need money for things like insurance and traffic management, but people really embrace the festival.

“Let us hope it can go from strength to strength”.