Crowds of families flock to Dudley fun day

The Bank Holiday fun day was staged at Dudley's Buffery Park.

Stilt walkers, live bands, bouncy castle, tombola and climbing wall were all part of the celebrations.

Organisers hailed the event a great success, with up to 4,000 people turning out to the park on Bank Holiday Monday - their biggest event yet.

The day was organised by the Friends of Buffery Park group, which works to preserve the park.

A stage was set up by Black Country Community Radio with performances by bands including Empty Can, Black Country Gaz and Far Forest.

There was also a display of dogs from the K9 rescue charity, including competitions for the best bitch, dog look-a-like and oldest dog, while the show alone managed to raise £380 for the Friends group.

Other activities included a tombola, bouncy castle, climbing wall and funfair, while visitors were also able to enjoy a barbecue as well.

The Friends group's secretary Lynn Horton said: "It is the biggest event and the biggest amount of people we have ever had.

"We were really happy with how it went. We could not have wished for a better day.

"The weather was fantastic and it was just a very happy day.

"Everybody liked it who was there. We did it for the people who live around that area," she said.

The park was created on mine shafts and opened around 1900, aimed at working class families to provide them with somewhere they could go and forget their troubles and relax among beautiful flower beds and shrubs.

However, in the 1980s the park budgets were cut and the facility was downgraded to the status of a neighbourhood park with the facilities, including tennis courts and nets, being allowed to fall into disrepair.

The group was formed after residents raised concerns about gangs of youths congregating in the park and rubbish being dumped there, which was causing rats to fester.

Since then, it has been responsible for improving facilities and helping to improve the park's environment.