Frank supports bid for £50m

Comedian Frank Carson came to Wolverhampton to back the Black Country's bid for a £50 million regeneration windfall from the National Lottery – and he wasn't joking.

But the funnyman could not resist a small gag as he said: "I have spent over 50 years touring clubs and pubs in Wolverhampton and the Black Country – I've appeared in everything except the Christmas crib.

I know the area and love the people so the least that I can do is lend a helping hand to this bid." Frank, aged 81, was the ideal backer for the campaign that urges people to stand up and be counted by voting for the bid in a TV poll that will decide the winner from a shortlist of four finalists early next month.

The Black Country plan includes opening up an underground world of hidden canals and caverns and is on the final shortlist of four projects from which the successful applicant will be chosen.

Frank met shoppers and filmed a video that will be shown at the official launch of the proposal at Walsall football ground on November 26. Details will also be given in a programme on ITV on December 6 before viewers pick the winner of the National Lottery's People's Millions award.

Black Country Businessman of the Year John Donnelly, aged 55, who was born in Smethwick and chairs the steering committee behind the launch of the region's bid, said: "This money is vital to the area." Tina Corfield, who prepared the bid, said it was "fantastic" that Frank was supporting it.