Volunteers needed for May Day celebrations after event hit by weather

The weekend's festivities held in Hednesford were cut short after the event was hit by bad weather and a poor crowd turn-out.

Children from West Hill Primary School turned out to take part in the tradition of dancing around the maypole. Music and other activities were also on the programme.

Cindy Faulkner, one of the organisers, said: "The turn-out was not as good as we'd hoped. Last year we went round schools and did workshops teaching children how to do the maypole dance.

"This year was more of a spontaneous celebration, inviting people just to come along and have a go.

"Historically maypole dancing was quite a big thing locally, with kings and queens being crowned. We brought it back last year and it was a great success, and we were lucky with good weather too. With more volunteers we hope to build up the festival over time into a more cultural event.

"We would look at featuring all sorts of dancing, from country to bhangra, and different types of food but these things take time to build up."

The event was organised by the Friends of Hednesford Park group which is enjoying the gradual transformation of the leisure site.

The park is undergoing a £2.2 million facelift funded by Heritage Lottery cash. Last week it was announced a further £200,000 has been put aside by the council for sports pitch improvements. Workmen are currently working on laying a network of new footpaths.

The next phase will be creating a children's play area, including a skate park. The revamp also includes a refurbished pavilion featuring a community room, balcony and ground-floor café.

The work is due to be completed by 2017.

Celebration

Among upcoming activities is a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

The area has connections with the famous victory through the Earl of Anglesey, formerly based at Beaudesert, near Cannock Chase, who became a hero of the conflict.