Twenty great ideas for a summer of fun

It doesn't have to cost a fortune to keep children entertained during the long summer holiday. CATHY SPENCER looks at some of the cheaper options.

Oak Park Leisure Centre

THE Walsall Wood centre is packed with events over the holidays designed to keep children of all ages entertained.

There's a roller disco every Wednesday from July 23 to August 27, from 3pm-5pm, costing £4.

Pool mat fun sessions take place on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons while inflatable sessions are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons both costing £2.10 per child. Tel: 01543 452849

Museum of Cannock Chase

There's something for everyone at the free-for-all days organised at three venues across Cannock. These include sports competitions, games, art workshops, junk drumming and climbing. They take place at Museum of Cannock Chase on July 25, Chase Leisure Centre on August 1 and Rugeley Leisure Centre on August 8.

Call to speak to the Chase It team on 01543 425996

Bantock House and Park

The Wolverhampton park kicks off its summer activities on July 19 with a free family storytelling festival.

Other free events include a seaside themed day on August 5 and 8; a fun day on August 6 and a music workshop on August 12. Other activities costing £2 per child include kite making on August 21, puppet making on July 29. On August 26 there is the chance to design an Indiana Jones obstacle course. Tel: 01902 552195.

Bloxwich Library

Youngsters can learn about animals, birds, reptiles and insects when the animal man visits on August 11.

Story and craft sessions for children 5 and under take place at the library on July 29, August 5 and August 15. Call 01922 710059 for details.

RAF Museum Cosford

Events for children every day throughout the holidays. Activities during August include making camouflage masks, creating rockets and paper gliders and making peg dolls. Entry and all activities are free of charge. Tel: 01902 376200

Stafford Castle

Children can step back in time for free. There is a programme of events this summer which include fun days, workshops and a classic car show on August 10. Tel: 01785 257698.

Smethwick Swimming Centre

Costing £1.60, activities include Kids Water Polo on July 28 and 31, August 11, 12 and 14, and August 28. A stepping stone challenge takes place every Friday between August 1 and August 22, with raft building on August 27. Tel: 0121 4291421.

Walsall Leather Museum

Free events include making bamboo butterflies on August 8 and the family fun day on August 25. Events costing £1.50 include making a portable toy theatre on July 30, making animals using leather on August 20, football on August 12 and kite making on August 13. Tel: 01922 721153

Codsall Leisure Centre

There's a fame academy class running for a week at a cost of £32.50, a super heroes theme day is £8.50 and there's a chance to make a hand-weaved journal for free. Other free events include parachute games and team races, fitness frenzy, Brazilian drumming, cartoon art, junk drumming and Kung Fu. Tel: 01902 844032.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Make an Olympic medal and braid a friendship bracelet in the free drop-in sessions. Other events include creating a coin-rubbing picture and inventing your own funny money. There is also a chance to decorate picture frames and design a poster for the Olympics. Tel: 01902 552 055

New Art Gallery in Walsall

Free sessions for under twos are available each day. There are dozens of free events at the gallery including giant leaf making July 23 - 24, making photo-grams of real flowers, August 6 -7, and pebble painting on August 13-14. Tel: 01922 654400.

Newhampton Arts Centre, W'ton

Zip Theatre's Summer Rock School and the Grand Theatre's Get In Scheme take place this summer.

The centre also has a number of events for youngsters including If You See A Crocodile on July 30, costing £3. On August 12 there is a music and video workshop for children aged 12 and above at a cost of £5 for the day, £3 for concessions.Tel: 01902 572090

Bilston Craft Gallery

There are plenty of hands-on activities starting with print-making on July 25. Others include making wire sculptures on July 29, T-shirt printing on August 12, mask making on August 14 and make your own notebooks on August 20. Sessions cost £1. Call 01902 552507 for details.

Various Dudley venues

For youngsters interested in wall climbing, free sessions are taking place at venues across Dudley.

On July 28 the mobile wall is at Priory Park, on July 29 at the Dell Stadium in Brierley Hill and on August 18 it will be at Stevens Park in Quarry Bank. On August 19 it is at Huntingtree Park in Halesowen on August 21 it is at Grange Park and on August 22 it is at Buffery Park. The wall will be at the sites from 11am to 4pm and sessions are organised and run by qualified play rangers.

For more information contact Dudley Council on 01384 812345.

Joseph Leckie College, Walsall

Free activities for eight to 19-year-olds include multi-player computer gaming club, hair and beauty, sports, swimming, dance and drama and feeling good fashion.

There will also be organised trips to various venues around the Midlands which cost £10 for children and £12 for adults. Tel: 01922 721071

Red House Glass Cone, Wordsley

Flutters and Foam is organised for July 28 and 30, when youngsters can make a butterfly mobile or a foam sun-visor. On August 4 and 5, there's a chance to make Native American crafts, and on August 11 and 12 they can make a mermaid puppet.

On August 18 and 19 children can enter an enchanted forest. Activities cost £3.25 and throughout the summer there is a free hunt. Tel: 01384 812750.

Football schools

Events for boys and girls aged 12-18, take place at Ratcliffe Park in Dial Lane, Harvills Hawthorn, West Bromwich and Friar Park at Manor Foundation Business, Enterprise and Sports College. The schools take place from July 28 to August 1 and August 18 and 22 with prizes for the winning teams at the end of the week.

For more information contact Steve Binns at 0121 507 9628 or text "manor" to 07810 107442.

Penkridge Leisure Centre

Free obstacle races and musical skip-a-thlons will keep children entertained. Other free events include music making, games and printing. Youngsters can also kung fu and kick boxing for £2.50, skittles for £1.50, cricket skills for £2.50 and a treasure hunt for £2.50. Tel: 01785 714152.

Hadley Stadium Leisure Centre

The Smethwick centre has trampolining, cheerleading and athletics. Tri-golf, athletics coaching, dodgeball sessions, football and multi-sports sessions cost £2.70, while trampolining, street cheerleading and classes using the dance mats cost £3.80. Tel: 0121 434 4848.

Dudley Museum and Art Gallery

On July 22 and 23, children can make hand puppets and matchbox creatures, on July 31 and 30 they can make an animal magnet, and on August 27 and 28 they can design a boomerang and bracelet. Activities cost £2.50 and there is a free treasure trail between July 21 and August 31. Call 01384 815574 for details.