X FACTOR heartthrob Josh Daniel spread festive cheer when he helped light up Keighley for Christmas.

Hundreds of fans gathered at the town’s Airedale Shopping Centre to hear Josh perform new tracks and carry out his official duties with Santa and the town’s mayor, Cllr Javaid Akhtar.

The singer, who shot to fame after moving judge Simon Cowell to tears with his performance, had earlier spent the afternoon at the Keighley mall signing autographs and meeting fans.

Also entertaining the crowds was Yorkshire singer Thomas Teago, the HD Hoopers Ladies, Keighley Cougars and young cheerleaders Team Xtreme.

Also entertaining Keighley shoppers during the afternoon were stilt walkers, face painters and balloon modellers, and the event finished with a fireworks display.

Pulse 1’s roadshow broadcast live from the centre, hosted by presenters Danny Mylo and Rosie Madison with competitions and fun games.

One keen X Factor fan, 12-year-old Raheem Ali, made sure his aunt Noreen Niwaz took him down to the Airedale Centre specially to see his idol.

Raheem, a pupil at South Craven School, said: “I’m a big fan and have been watching him ever since the first audition for X Factor. He was really good and it was really emotional - he should have gone further in the show.”

Also in the audience on Sunday were the Westfalls from Keighley, a family obsessed with the TV talent show and Josh in particular.

Mum Donna took her children, both pupils at St Joseph’s Primary, eight-year-old Freddie and Dolly, aged six, and Dolly also took to the stage herself with her cheerleading group,

Donna said: “Dolly goes to cheerleading with Team Xtreme and there are about 70 of them but only six were chosen to come and perform today. They practiced hard and it went really well.”

Airedale Centre manager Steve Seymour was delighted to see so many people braving the bad weather to turn out for the event, which was run in conjunction with the Keighley Town Centre Association and the Keighley Town Council.

Steve said: “Santa’s been busy in his grotto and I know that he’s met hundreds of children already – he will be back at the centre every weekend leading up to Christmas."

The grotto on Brunswick Arcade inside the shopping centre is once again raising funds for Manorlands, the Airedale’s nominated charity for 2015.

Visitors can help the Sue Ryder hospice in Oxenhope by dropping coins into the centre’s wishing well in the animated display, or making use of the gift-wrapping service that will be running in the mall right up until 4pm on Christmas Eve.

* See Thursday's Keighley News for full report and more pictures.