Weather worries for attractions at Easter

Tourist attractions in the Midlands are expecting mixed fortunes over this weekend with a damp and chilly Easter being predicted by weather forecasters.

While outdoor visitor sites fear numbers may be down on last year, indoor centres are predicting a bumper Bank Holiday weekend as people flock there to avoid the downpours.

Jill Hitchman, spokeswoman for Dudley Zoo, said the attraction had organised a series of special events including egg and spoon races, wooden egg decoration workshops and the chance to meet a giant rabbit.

She said: "We're hoping the bad weather won't make much of a difference and we'll be busy."

Black Country Living Museum spokeswoman Fiona Carding said: "We've had a high number of on-line bookings for the Easter period.

"Visitors who wear an Easter bonnet will be admitted for half price."

Bob Clarke, of Kinver Edge National Trust committee, which runs the rock-face attraction, said: "On a warm weekend we can expect anything up to 1,400 visitors but, with the weather as it's predicted, that could be down by 400."

Kelly Huband, supervisor at Chilly Kiddy's Soft Adventure Play Centre in Stourbridge, said: "We have a capacity for 125 children and we expect this weekend to be turning people away."

At the Red House Glass Cone glass museum, in Wordsley, staff also predicted business to be booming with glass blowing and a mad hatters tea party.

Staff at Walsall Leather Museum are also preparing for a bumper Bank Holiday Monday, with a free fun day.

Andy Coggins, visitor services manager at the Birches Valley Forest Centre, Rugeley, said: "Most of our activities are outdoors but the weather doesn't particularly impact on us too badly.

"We've actually just taken our first deliveries of ice cream in anticipation of some good weather - but I suppose ice cream is nice even in the rain."