Balmy weather brings boost to region's parks

As the sun beat down on the Midlands and temperatures soared over the weekend, thousands of people seized the opportunity and flocked to popular visitor attractions and parks across the region.

With the good weather set to continue throughout the week, reaching highs of 18C (64.4F) on Wednesday, some attractions pulled in 10 times their usual numbers over the weekend.

As thermometers hit a balmy 17C (62.6F) in some parts, families crowded into Wolverhampton's West Park to soak up the sun.

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Lynn Jones, who has run the park's tearooms for the past six years, said they had welcomed around 2,000 people through the doors on both days – well up on their usual numbers of a couple of hundred. "It's been phenomenal – absolutely fantastic," said Mrs Jones, who bakes her own goodies at her Halesowen home.

"If only all weekends were like this. We've had couples, families, groups of friends coming through the doors – it's been great."

At the Black Country Living Museum, team leader Debbie Woodward said the sunny weather had prompted seaside scenes with visitors rolling up their sleeves and eating fish and chips and ice creams while basking in the heat.

She said: "We normally see visitor numbers pick up around this time of year but this has been lovely and there have definitely been lots of people coming in." In Staffordshire, beauty spot Cannock Chase was a hive of activity as families flocked to enjoy the warm weather. Stafford's Victoria Park also drew in the crowds.

Moyra Mclaughlin, manager of the Play Barn at Amerton Farm and Craft Centre near Stafford, said numbers were up on a normal spring weekend. "This weekend has probably been comparable to a bank holiday really," she said.

Matt Darby, senior ranger at Sandwell Valley Country Farm, which includes the Forge Mill Farm, the Park Farm and the new adventure playground, said car parks were full all weekend with hundreds of visitors.