Tony Cox, 46, proposed to wife Jo, now 42, at the event and the couple will be repeating their vows in a special celebration today.

They married in a 1940s -style wedding in Hartlepool last year and will be re-enacting the marriage at the town near Bradford.

Mr Cox, 46, a company director from Essex, said: "We got engaged at Haworth and it will be nice to return. We decided to celebrate this way as we would have liked to be married there but just couldn't, it gets too busy at the weekend. We do have one of Jo's original bridesmaids coming up and my chief usher too.

"We attend a lot of historical events and this one is our favourite of the whole year. It gives us a chance to relax and is a way to meet loads of likeminded people."

Organisers of the event are hoping to attract 5,000 visitors for each day of the festivities, now in their 15th year.

The chairman of Haworth Traders Association, Pamela Haworth, said: "The event has grown year-in, year-out. We have a chap who comes all the way from Canada but Australia is definitely the furthest away destination. It is still very much a community event though, with lots of local input."

Pupils from Stanbury Village School, some of whom are studying the period, will be posing as wartime evacuees finally returning home.

Visitors are encouraged to park at neighbouring Keighley, Ingrow or Oxenhope so they can enjoy a nostalgic steam train journey on to Haworth.

Actor Paul Harper, who recently appeared in the film Atonement, will be entertaining the crowds with his banjo.

For more information contact Haworth Tourist Information Centre on 01535 642329 or visit the website at www.haworth-village.org.uk.