Listen to the people: We ay no Brummies!

Preparations are well under way for a festival celebrating life in the Black Country, with a packed programme of events this weekend ahead of the official celebration on July 14.

While the faggots and paes are being prepared, a councillor has caused a stir over his views calling for closer ties with Birmingham.

Dudley Council's leader Councillor David Sparks has backed calls for Black Country areas to merge with West Midlands authorities in a bid to boost prosperity.

It comes weeks after business leaders across Birmingham said they want the four Black Country boroughs – Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall – to be part of a new 'city region', similar to Greater Manchester.

Councillor Sparks says he wants to see a combined authority for the West Midlands, bringing Birmingham together with the Black Country, acting like a Greater Birmingham.

"I'm not bothered what you call it," said the Labour councillor previously.

But 'Black Country' Gaz Sawers, who has been the principal organiser of the Black Country Festival, today said he disagreed with any move to lose the area's identity.

"I have one simple phase - 'Speak to the people, listen to the people' - we aren't Brummies," said musician Mr Sawers, of Pensnett, Dudley.

"We get on well and respect each other and there is a healthy rivalry between Black Country and Birmingham.

"But I'm sure that Brummies would not want to give up their own identity and neither would the Black Country people.

"That's why we have held the Black Country Festival because we wanted to celebrate all that is great about the Black Country."

Previously Andy Street, managing director of the department store chain John Lewis and chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, has said the move would make the West Midlands more competitive.

Meanwhile, a bostin' poet will be reciting his much-loved work as part of this weekend's Black Country celebrations.

Ian Henery, Walsall's poet laureate, has been invited to perform at Dudley's Black Country Living Museum on both Saturday and Sunday.

He will also be performing at Dudley Archives, Dudley's Stone Street Square and at Wednesbury Museum & Art Gallery.

Mr Henery is a poet in residence at St Matthew's Church in Walsall and will recite part of his new book Wildfire Through Staffordshire as part of his weekend tour of the local area.

Mr Henery's collection of 22 poems tells the story of a steam locomotive called Wildfire on its journey up the Grand Junction in 1838 through the eyes of a Victorian man. Mr Henery said: "I will be reading poems from a section in the book which focus on the locomotive's journey through the Black Country when it really was black by day and red by night."

He added: "I am so proud to be part of this celebration.

"It is so good to see so many people taking pride in our regional origins and I am proud to help fly the flag for the Black Country."

Solicitor Mr Henery will perform at the Dudley-based Black Country Living Museum from 11am on Saturday outside the mine entrance building before reciting his work at Dudley Archives at 12.45pm. He will then perform at Street Square in Dudley at 1.30pm before returning to the Living Museum at 2pm for a book signing session.

He is also reciting his poems at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery at 7pm on Saturday.

On Sunday, Mr Henery will perform at the Black Country Living Museum from 11am to 3pm where he will also be signing copies of his book and giving talks about the history of the area in Workers' Institute.

Mr Henery said: "It will be a busy but wonderful weekend. It is lovely to be in demand and to be part of something like this."