Thousands of people descended on Walsall to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Pat Collins, the King of Showmen.

All the fun of the fair came to the town’s Arboretum as visitors enjoyed the world’s largest mobile sandpit and children’s donkey rides. An exhibition on the life of Pat Collins, whose funfairs have been enjoyed by thousands of people up and down the country, was also on show.

Monster trucks, vintage lorries and fairground organs rolled into the park over the weekend for the two-day event, with money raised going to local charities.

The event was organised by Walsall councillor Anthony Harris, whose father Elias married one of Pat Collins’ granddaughters.

Councillor Harris now runs the well-known funfair but said the jam-packed extravaganza was a fitting tribute to Pat, who had done so much for the fairground industry.

“I think Pat Collins would approve wholeheartedly if he was still alive today,” he said.

Oldbury-born Bill Hunt has been involved with the fair for more than 67 years, since he was just seven-years-old.

He has spent more than 20 years restoring a road locomotive originally built in 1921 and used by Pat Collins to pull his fairground rides. The father-of-two said: “I would go to all the Black Country fairs with my dad.

“Pat Collins decided to stop using this engine in 1946 and sent it to the scrapyard. In 1954, when I was 18, I bought it.

“I was on leave from the navy and towed it out with another engine.

It was the 1980s before Mr Hunt started restoration work as a hobby when he got time off from his job as an engineer.

Wolverhampton’s Len Crane lives up to his surname by operating his steam crane.

The 76-year-old father used to follow the Pat Collins funfair to see the traction engines but worked for many years as a toolmaker.

For Martin Jennings, who runs the chair rides for children, the funfair brings back childhood memories. His son Richard, aged 24, owns the ride.

Mr Jennings said: “This is something that just carries on year in year out. It’s a very special occasion.”

Pat Collins was associated with Walsall for more than 60 years, becoming an MP for the borough until the early 1920s.

He was elected as Mayor in 1938.