Fun in the sun as families make most of weather

There was fun in the sun for thousands of families who made the most of the glorious weather when they enjoyed a host of days out at attractions across the region.

A nostalgic 40s weekend, model aircraft display, vintage fair and a music festival were just some of the events on offer across the Black Country, Staffordshire and Shropshire during the glorious weekend.

And although temperatures may have slightly dipped over Saturday and Sunday, the warm weather still ensured people turned out in their droves.

Thousands of people turned out for the annual Burntwood Wakes Festival which had to be cancelled last year due to wet weather.

Organisers of the three-day music festival say one of the most popular attractions was the tribute act evening which saw around 3,000 people turn out.

Abba tribute band Swede Dreamz and The Beatless took to the stage for the opening show of the festival on Friday night.

Mary Danby, the town clerk of Burntwood Town Council which runs the festival, said they were very pleased with the turnout for the show which was the first time a tribute night had been held.

She said: "Both of the acts were received very well." Around 7,000 people turned out for a family fun day on Saturday which featured the MAD Team BMX riders, as well as dog and falconry displays.

In the evening there was a proms concert with the Staffordshire Festival Orchestra, followed by a firework display.

And, for the first time, in the event's history there was a folk concert held which took place yesterday. Around 300 people turned out for the show which featured four bands, a duet and a solo performer.

Mrs Danby added that visitors had enjoyed the folk performers and added: "The proms event on Saturday was a really nice evening."

More than 600 exhibits from days gone by featured at the Rally in The Valley, near Bridgnorth, including a number of vintage steam engines.

More than 3,500 people attended the event at Grange Farm in Hilton across both Saturday and Sunday.

Steam engines, vintage machines, tractors, commercial vehicles, military transport, motorcycles and pre 1975 cars were all on show.

There was lots of Blitz and glamour at a fun-packed 1940s wartime weekend at the Black Country Living Museum.

Hundreds of people came from around the country to enjoy the nostalgic fun, many getting into the spirit of the era by dressing in period clothing.

For the majority of those visiting who did not live through the war, they were given a taste of what life would have been like with a host of re-enactments throughout Saturday and Sunday at the Dudley attraction.

This included a realistic rescue of a mother and baby caught up in a firebomb attack – which was quickly responded to by the Home Guard and police.

Paul Bowler, 60, from Cherry Orchard in Kidderminster, is a salesman in his normal life but volunteers for 1940s events for the Severn Valley Railway and was on hand in his policeman's uniform to help out.

He said: "In air raids policemen joined in with the Home Guard and wardens to save those who might have been in peril at the time.

"In this case someone had just been firebombed so we were all hands to the pump - we managed to get her and her baby out.

Nobby Clarke, from Bruce Road in Kidderminster, also volunteers on the Severn Valley Railway and was on hand to protect the museum's residents as a member of the Home Guard. "It's been a very good weekend, has been received extremely well by all of the visitors and we've had really good comments about our role – the public have loved it."

The glamour at the weekend was provided by the D-Day Darlings, who sang wartime tunes to keep spirits up. Winston Churchill and the King and Queen also paid a visit.

There was plenty of '40s food on offer, and the chance to get a vintage hair-do from a stylist.

The clocks were turned back to yesteryear at a vintage fair held in Wolverhampton.

There were more than 40 stalls at the event held in Linden House on the Tettenhall Road yesterday afternoon. Those who went along were able to get a new look drawing on inspiration from years gone by in a hair and make-up salon which had been set up for the occasion. There were also demonstrations of crafts including sewing and jewellery as well as live entertainment by a group called the Miss Fortunes and a 1940s style singer Sarah Raymond.

The fair was put on by My Vintage Events and organiser Dawn Melis said: "We have had quite a good turnout, particularly given it is the first time that we have held a fair here.

"All the stall holders have said they were busy so we are really chuffed."

Meanwhile, thousands of aviation enthusiasts descended on the RAF Cosford museum to watch as dozens of model aircrafts took to the skies. Scaled down versions of iconic planes were among those that were on show at the attraction near Wolverhampton as part of the large model aircraft rally. Among those who went along was 39-year-old Robert Gardner from

Rugeley who took his Yak 55 SP, a 42 per cent scale of the original model.

He said: "I started getting involved with model aircrafts in 2007 but I think it has always been in my blood from a young boy going to the park and seeing model air planes there."

He also took along a flash jet that could reach speeds of up to 300mph.

Robbie Skipton, from Kingswinford, took along a 55 per cent scale Christen Eagle plane.