Carnival to round off St George's Day parade

Organisers of the Black Country's biggest St George's Day parade today revealed that the march will end with a carnival-style event at West Bromwich's Dartmouth Park.

More than 20,000 people are expected to join the event through the town on April 24 and for the first time attractions will be waiting for them which will include stalls, fairground rides and refreshment stalls.

There had been concerns that the event in West Bromwich could be scrapped after organisers struggled to raise the necessary funds.

But the Stone Cross St George Association, which runs the event, has already raised more than half of the £10,000 fundraising target.

Event spokesman Mark Cowles said today the event, which starts in Stone Cross and ends at the town centre park, would finish with a ceremony with the British Legion at the cenotaph, where the Last Post will be played, before the fun gets under way.

He said: "We are trying to create a carnival type atmosphere. We have confirmed the Pat Collins Fun Fair and a birds of prey display."

He added the organisers were also looking for people who wanted to hold stalls at the event and visitors can enjoy inflatable slides and a football game.

"We have also got the British Legion taking us into the park and they will have tributes to the fallen heroes at the cenotaph and the Last Post," he said.

"That will kick start the celebrations that will be in the park."

The fixture has become one of Sandwell's most popular events and now attracts tens of thousands of people every year.

However, Sandwell Council has a policy meaning that it will not contribute financially to externally organised community parades, which means that the St George's Day parade has to be self-funded.

Anyone who wants to get involved in the fun day should call Lynne Whitehouse on 07834156816 or email stgeorgeparade @aol.com.