George Osborne gets on board with Black Country Day

George Osborne said it was important to 'celebrate the heritage and history' of the area while also boosting manufacturing in the future.

Posing alongside Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris, Mr Osborne said: "It's great to be here on Black Country Day.

"We should celebrate the history and heritage of this area. But we should also celebrate the great future of the Black Country."

Dozens of events across the whole area pulled in huge crowds over the weekend as local celebrities helped mark the first real celebration of what makes our towns great.

Music producer Pete Waterman, Steve Bull, Lenny Henry and comedy legend Aynuk have all thrown their weight behind the big day - chosen to commemorate one of the region's most historic achievements.

July 14 was chosen as it is the anniversary of the invention of the world's first steam engine, the Newcomen Engine, which was first built in the Black Country in 1712.

Over the weekend, a brilliant Black Country Festival brought together thousands of people ahead of the big day.

Today, local dignitaries, music stars and celebrities will tour the region in an open top bus. adding a musical touch to proceedings.

Aynuk, whose real name is Alan Smith, today said: "I'm so glad that at last we've got an appointed Black Country Day.

"I've lived here 76 years, I love every inch of the Black Country and its traditions, I love the dialect, and I wouldn't live anywhere else in the world.

"We have the most friendly people - there's an old saying, 'a Black Countrymon will give you anything he ay got'."

Organisers said they had been inundated with calls in recent days and weeks from people keen to thrown their own events.

Major attractions such as the Black Country Living Museum and the Red House Glass Cone played host to many of the main celebrations this weekend.

This included the return of A Black Country Night Out featuring stand up comics and live music in the cavenous surroundings of the Cone.

Stars turns like Aynuk were joined by Emma Rollason as Dolly Allen and comedy and stage act The Fizzogs.

Smoke bellowed from the replica Newcomen Engine which was fired up at the heritage museum in honour of the festival.

Schoolgirl Gracie Sheppard, aged 14, from Stourbridge, designed the Black Country Flag as part of a contest run by Black Country Living Museum.

And she proudly flew the flag outside the museum's Newcomen Engine saying: "I'm very proud to have designed the flag especially with is being on show at lots of different places."