Midlands big screens for Royal Wedding

Big screens are being planned at attractions across the Midlands to allow crowds to watch the Royal Wedding, it was announced today.

Families are expected to flock to Birmingham's Victoria Square to watch Prince William and Kate Middleton marry. The Black Country Living Museum and The Public in West Bromwich are also considering screening the event.

The £1 million large screen already set up in Victoria Square will broadcast the ceremony on April 29.

The BBC screen was installed in 2007 but stood unused for three years due to a planning wrangle.

The square has royal connections as it is where well-wishers gathered to watch King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during a visit to the city in November 1945.

A traditional street party to mark the big occasion is also being planned at Black Country Living Museum in Tipton Road, Dudley.

Director and chief executive Andrew Lovett said: "We are organising a street party and looking into whether we can show the wedding on a big screen in Folkes Park."

Staff at The Public said they could also offer visitors the chance to watch the celebrations while visiting the attraction.

Marketing officer Charmaine Pearce said: "We are planning to celebrate the Royal Wedding and we are looking at what activities we can offer visitors."

Traders in Hednesford are planning a community day to mark the occasion with a large plasma screen to show the ceremony. A Victorian market and mini funfair, stalls, face painting, games, competitions, fun run and a street party will be part of the fun in the town centre.

Applications have starting to trickle in for road closures across the region to allow residents to celebrate the wedding with street parties.

One authority, Dudley Council, has lifted road closure fees for anyone thinking about holding an event.

By Heather Large