Monster fun at Walsall Town Show

The annual extravaganza at the Arboretum also features boat rides, wrestlers, vintage vehicles, steam engine displays and a funfair.

Monster truck driver Michael Murtu, aged 42, and his team are among the performers in the main arena.

His giant red wheels Big Pete will be taking on the black and blue Grim Reaper, driven in turn by his son, Christopher, and Karen Shutler, both 27, during two performances.

"We've got 16 cars lined up to be smashed up and it should be a good weekend. We do these shows from Easter all through the summer so it's a very busy time," Mr Murtu says.

Organiser Anthony Harris says he hopes for dry weather at the event that has been running for the last six years.

It will run from 10am to 6pm today and tomorrow at the park in Broadway North.

Guests include the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Pete smith, who was making an appearance at midday. The town show was resurrected by Mr Harris, also a councillor, in 2009 to mark what would have been the 150th birthday of the Black Country's king of showmen Pat Collins.

Mr Harris says: "Fingers crossed we're hoping the rain will hold off so that as many people as possible will come. It will be a really good show. There is a fairground, a ghost train and some good rides. There is a display of vintage engines and the gardens will be open for people to tour."

The event will raise money for the mayor's chosen charities – MacMillan Cancer Support, the MS Society, Heart Care, Bloxwich Community Partnership and British Polio .