Canal festival goes with a splash

Boating enthusiasts, performers, artists and traditional craftsmen joined with thousands of Tipton folk for their inaugural canal festival.

The sun shone over the weekend as visitors turned out to enjoy the event, many of whom took to the water to discover the canals on their doorsteps and learn about the town's industrial heritage.

Boat rides up and down the water were running through the day, along with face painting, circus skills activities and entertainment provided by Black Country poet Dave Bartley and band Chicken Bone Blues.

Steve Downing, from the Tipton Community Association, said: "It's been absolutely brilliant. The canals are such an important part of the town and there's so much industrial heritage that I think an event like this is well over due."

And he promised next year's event will be bigger and better, with the date, September 19, already booked. Mr Downing, aged 46, who runs the Brook Street Community Centre, added: "It's going to span the whole weekend, there's going to be an illuminated boat parade in the evening and a show to keep everyone entertained."

Also at the event was intrepid Jane Ball, from Castle Road, Tipton, who built a coracle herself to row up and down the waters.