Video and pictures: How Pokémon Go is bringing people closer in the Black Country

Now their group has reached more than 400 members online and counting in what he described as an 'astonishing' boom.

Keiran, aged 22, from Brierley Hill, said: "I know that Pokémon Go had a big following but how quickly the group has grown is quite astonishing really, I think it is quite funny.

"Nintendo have been trying to get people to go out and play with each other for years, they tried with the GameBoy and the cable.

"All kinds of people have been turning up, middle-aged, people in their 20s and 30s, younger kids, and a lot of women as well which you wouldn't have thought.

"I think the success of is the way the game works and all the PokeStops available that you need progress in the game.

"It does bring people together."

The RAF Museum Cosford is known for its legendary aircraft collection but alongside these iconic exhibits it now houses 11 PokéStops, a PokéGym and numerous characters from the game that seems to have taken over the West Midlands.

Visitors to the museum are invited to step into the digital world to help catch characters like Ghastly, Drowzee, Rhyhorn, Pidgeotto, Eevee and Weedle to name but a few. With Lures popping up across the site on a daily basis, it's making life easier for gamers who have 'gotta catch 'em all'.

The museum has a PokéGym directly in front of the Lockheed Hercules aircraft, displayed outdoors in the museum grounds, which this weekend will be the centre of the Cosford Food Festival. There are also a total of 11 PokéStops where you will find some of the rarer characters, located at key points around the site, inside each of the hangars and next to external aircraft displays including the Bristol Britannia and the Hawker Siddeley Hunter.

PokéStops are usually placed on locations of interest or tourist spots and are popular attractions for players as they deliver items such as PokéBalls (to catch other Pokémon), Potions and Revives (to heal or revive a fainted Pokémon) and are integral to the game.

RAF Museum Cosford public relations executive, Michelle Morgans said: "Since Pokémon Go launched in the UK last week, we have noticed a number of visitors playing the game here at Cosford; as a free museum, they are most welcome to come and search for their favourite characters. Pokémon have been popping up across the site and we are discovering new ones every day."

Keen player and RAF Museum Cosford Apprentice, Jack Rogers said: "I have been playing Pokémon for 14 years and I have never been so happy seeing so many people enjoying and interacting with one another. The museum is such a nice environment for the game, being able to enjoy both the museum and a great destination to play Pokémon Go."

With the summer holidays just around the corner, the museum is anticipating lots of their younger visitors will be engrossed by the Pokémon phenomenon during their visit, as well as being amazed by the aircraft displays.

Keiran and five of his friends, all aged around 22 to 24, set up the group, called Pokémon Go: Black Country, for a bit of fun, but didn't expect it to grow so quickly.

It is open for anyone to join on Facebook and Keiran encouraged anyone interested to sign up.

"I would encourage everyone to get involved. We have families who attend and mums and dads will be playing alongside their children," said Keiran.

"I am quite lazy but to be fair this gets me out the house."

He estimated around a dozen people will be at Dudley Ruins playing the game every day, which added was a spot rich for catching Pokémon.

"Some people will be there sitting in their cars until 3am," he said.

The group meet up at the historic site normally every Saturday around 6pm to 7pm.

"We went round speaking to everyone asking where they were from at the first event," said Keiran.

"Everyone gets involved. If anyone finds a rare Pokémon you get lots of people running to try and catch it.

"Everyone takes chairs and umbrellas to the site, there is even an ice-cream man who sets up there too."

He added: "I would like to thank everyone, it has been a few hectic weeks. Obviously I didn't think there would be that much success. It has blown up.

"I would just like to thank everyone who comes to events."

To join the group search for Pokémon Go: Black Country on Facebook.

The craze has captured the imagination of millions of people online – but some people's obsession has gone too far.

A driver was caught on Monday playing the game while behind the wheel of his car – and has been slapped with a fine my police.

Police pulled over a 27-year-old man suspected of playing the game on his mobile phone while behind the wheel in Stourbridge.

The driver was stopped in Birmingham Street, near to the Stourbridge ring road and given a penalty ticket after he was reported to traffic process office.

Officers tweeted under the Stourbridge Police account: "Male caught Stourbridge ring road on mobile phone, we suspect Pokemon but the ticket will poke this mon #PokemonGO."

It came on the same day it emerged a Pokemon Go player called 999 to tell police that someone had 'stolen their Pokemon'.

The gaming fan decided to contact Gloucestershire Police as an emergency while using the hugely popular app on the day after its UK launch.

Police gave the player 'words of advice' on when it is appropriate to call 999.

The craze, which has reached fever pitch in the US, has sparked a string of incidents in the UK in the past week.

A group of Pokemon Go players stole a boat in the middle of the night to chase one of the fictional creatures across a lake, according to the coastguard.

Around 20 youngsters apparently took the rowing vessel out onto New Brighton marine lake, Merseyside, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.