A star from hit TV show Heartbeat will lend some celebrity sparkle to Horsforth Gala this weekend.

David Lonsdale, who has played ‘village idiot’ David Stockwell in the show for 18 years, will officially open the gala at Hall Park on Saturday.

The day’s fun will start with a fancy dress parade of Horsforth School pupils that will set off from the school, led by the City of Leeds Pipe Band, at noon. The gala queen, 13-year-old Horsforth School pupil Lucy Frost, will follow in an open-top car.

A £100 prize will be up for grabs for the best fancy dress in the procession, which will also be collecting for charity and is due to arrive at Hall Park at around 12.45pm.

Actor Mr Lonsdale said he was looking forward to welcoming the parade – and to demonstrating how different he is from his on-screen persona.

He said: “I’m sure people think I’m a bit pretentious when they hear me talking normally. But surely viewers don’t think I’m actually stupid, do they?

“I always say that David Stockwell has an idiot dial, and it can be turned up from one to ten depending on how stupid the script requires him to be.

“ I absolutely adore playing him, because it’s relatively rare in a TV drama that actors are allowed to do character work, and it is an absolute joy not to be me at all.”

Other attractions will include two dance school troupes, a juggler and street performer, mini motorbikes, bouncy castles and a display by the pipe band.

New for this year will be the Bungee Eliminator and a Bucking Banana, while the arena displays will include a birds of prey demonstration.

Gala committee chairman Dawn Collins said: “We have yet to complete the full line-up but we will have a fire engine in the park and some further surprises are planned too.

“This year the parade will again be collecting to raise funds for Martin House Hospice for children and young people.”

Gala queen Lucy will be accompanied by Joan and Pat from Horsforth Live At Home scheme, who will act as her maids of honour for the day.