THE RACE is on to get Huddersfield's thirty- somethings to go out and party this Christmas.

And busy mums and dads will be just as welcome at the Lounge 68 event as Bridget Jones-style singletons.

Old friends Julian Bartholet and Shaun Hutchinson are behind the event, called Clear.

They held their first party at the end of August and 300 people turned out.

Married Julian, 38, of Honley, said: "We're going for quality, not quantity - so we're only just staging our second party.

"The people we're pitching at are in their late 20s, 30s, or 40s and they don't necessarily want to go out every weekend.

"They probably used to go out and have a blast every weekend, but now they're busy with work and perhaps children. But when they do decide they want a night out, they want to make sure it's a really good quality one."

He added: "When you look at Huddersfield's nightlife scene, there's a lot of venues packed with 18-year-olds, going mental.

"As far as I know, no-one else is marketing parties like ours."

The ticket-only Christmas party is at Lounge 68, John William Street, on Monday, December 27, between 8pm and 2am.

Priced £10, tickets are available over the bar at Lounge 68. They include free coat check, canapés and complimentary drinks on arrival.

Julian said: "Our last event was a huge success."

London-based Shaun, who goes by the name DJ Shiveringgoat, will aim to create a club vibe that is somewhere between New York and Manchester's Hacienda, via Huddersfield's own early 1990s' US garage club "Hard Times".

A booming sound system and bar full of balloons are promised- and organisers will be raising money for the Huddersfield Breast Care Fund.

Professionals such as graphic designers, artists, DJs, even stockbrokers, are set to attend.

Julian says: "I'm hoping Clear will become a real networking event."

* Visit the website at www.clearparty.com