National television and media coverage helped earn Morley the title of England’s most patriotic town in 2008 for its fantastic weekend of events to mark our patron saint’s day.

This year’s festivities will be taking place over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, and they look certain to attract an even bigger crowd than last year.

On Saturday, Morley town centre will be taken over by an outdoor market with plenty of street entertainment lined up.

The red, white and blue bunting has already started going up and will festoon Queen Street from Morley Bottoms to the Fountain Street junction and will remain up all summer.

A children’s pirate-themed fancy dress competition has been organised and there will also be a children’s photographic competition on the theme of knights, dragons and damsels.

Pictures taken during weekend will be judged and cash prizes will be awarded at a Morley Town Hall presentation.

But it’s the Sunday festivities that will bring the town to life when St George on horseback will lead the parade from Morley Town Hall to Morley Rugby Club in Scatcherd Lane at noon.

He will be accompanied by the Regimental Wing Band of the Air Force Cadets and local scouts will carry the Standard of St George.

Hopefully, the Army and Navy cadets will also join the parade, plus representatives from organisations across Morley.

Once the parade has reached the rugby ground people can watch two battle re-enactments, the West Riding Dog Section of the police, sword dancing and falconry displays, as well as the Royal Armouries Golden Arrow competition, which attracts archers from across the UK.

A booklet containing the full run-down of events will be available from places in the town centre, including the Observer and Advertiser office soon.

One of the main organisers, Coun Joe Tetley, said: “Last year we attracted a great deal of national coverage and the BBC has already been in touch.

“There are a lot of big cities coming to us for advice on how to stage their own celebrations, but we’re confident ours will still be the best.”

l People wanting to book market stalls for the town centre on Saturday, or the rugby club on Sunday, can for £5 a stall. Contact Lesley Gettings on 2539763. They must be manned from 11am-4pm.