Delight and disappointment at The Public

A steady stream of people headed through the shocking pink automatic doors into West Bromwich's eye-catching £67 million centre, which opened in June last year.

Dogged by well-publicised technical problems, the gallery has courted its fair share of controversy.

And that looks set to continue, as visitors had a mixed reaction to the "unique multi-media arts experience" on offer.

Angela Whittingham, aged 40, from Tipton, visited the gallery with her son Liam Moore, aged 12, and her 10-year-old nephew Jake Fitzpatrick.

They were impressed by the gallery's video seats, which gave the youngsters the chance to see themselves on screen. "I think it's really great here and the children have really enjoyed it," said Miss Whittingham.

"Obviously there has been a lot of talk about how much money has been spent on this but it's good and there's lots for the kids to do."

However, the Robinson family, of Princes End, Tipton, did not agree.

Mum Grace, a 34-year-old nurse, and husband Adam took Daniel, 11 and Jack, four, to see what all the fuss was about.

Mrs Robinson said: "I think it's almost too futuristic, it doesn't really mean much to the kids. There's lots of blank spaces and the kids just seem to be running around in them. It doesn't really seem to produce anything."

John Render and his wife Mary, who live in Nottingham, were in town for the annual Sandwell Community Show. Joined by Mrs Render's sister Nancy Partridge and her husband Norman, of Wednesbury, they were not entirely convinced.

Mr Render, aged 69, had been checking out an interactive display of old black and white photos on the upper floor of the gallery.

But he said: "There's no description of what the pictures are. They don't actually mean anything to anyone. There's no information to go with them and then the interest goes."

Mrs Render, aged 73, said: "A lot of it looks nice but there's no explanation to go with it all. The outside to me is wonderful and very striking and it's nice and colourful inside. But it does all need a little bit more explanation."

Kelly Jeffs, who is deputy chief executive officer of the Light House Media Centre in Wolverhampton, took her son Alfie and his best friend Owen Russon to see what the gallery had to offer.

They checked out pieces loaned by the renowned art collector Frank Cohen, who has a gallery in Four Ashes, near Wolverhampton. Mrs Jeffs, aged 37, of Willenhall, said: "I think the gallery is absolutely brilliant and hope it engages more people in creative activities. There's lots for the kids to do."

Nine-year-old Alfie was also bowled over. He said: "The people who work here are really nice and if you can't do something, they help you."

But 69-year-old Ivor Morgan, of Moore Street, West Bromwich, was not impressed. "The touch-screen photographs have no captions to go with them," he said.

"My thoughts are millions of pounds for a load of old photographs and nobody knows what we're standing looking at."

But foor mother-of-three Sarah Clayton, of Oldbury, the gallery exceeded all expectations.

"It's brilliant and far better than I thought it would be," said the 34-year-old, mother to Jamie, 13, Jordan, nine and Braden, five. "It's all been worth it in the end."

The gallery is free to enter after a controversial ticketing scheme was scrapped. It will be open for three days a week.