DESPITE the rain, the verdict was that Skipton's community spirit shone through in a programme which aimed to tell the story of the town through dance.

'Our Dancing Town' on BBC2 last night focussed on Skipton and the general felling was that it showed the place in a 'fantastic' light.

Town Mayor Martin Emerson, who joined the throng on a wet day last July, said: "It was a pity about the rain at the time the dance was filmed. The town had been heaving in the morning but many people had looked for shelter when it was eventually filmed.

"But the programme was fantastic for Skipton. The town and the countryside were very impressive - it should be great for tourism."

Dave Parker, Skipton Town Council chief officer, said: “Skipton looked fantastic. Everybody involved from across the community did our town proud - and you simply can’t buy this kind of positive publicity.”

He added: “I know that my Town Centre Management team enjoyed working with the TV production company and the extra profile this has given to Skipton on prime time TV across the country is well worth the time and effort put in by all of those who took part."

The programme was the second in a series of four which started in Barnsley and still has Huddersfield and York to cover.

At the helm helping to bring the stories to life is leading is West End performer and choreographer Steve Elias, whose theatre pedigree includes starring roles in Guys & Dolls, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Billy Elliot, while also working as a choreographer for Scottish National Opera and the BBC Proms.

His aim is to celebrate the pride, history and people of the four very different Yorkshire locations in the way the London Olympics opening ceremony brought people together.

Emma Willis, creative director of the production company Twenty Twenty TV, said: “Yorkshire has a unique identity and heritage and faces many of the challenges of modern Britain.