Wolverhampton and Black Country show a success

This year the two-day event was billed as the Wolverhampton and Black Country show - and families from across the area turned out to enjoy the attractions.

The crowd around the main arena was five-people deep as the ever-popular monster trucks showed off some spectacular stunts.

And the Bolddog Lings freestyle motocross team had the youngsters in raptures as they performed somersaults and flips in mid-air.

Other shows in the arena included The Devil's Horsemen stunt team with Joey, one of the horses used in Steven Spielberg's epic First World War film War Horse.

The Black Country flag was displayed with pride on the fence around the main arena - and organisers said the event was a chance for everyone to celebrate the region's heritage.

Footage from the bigpetemonstertruck Youtube account:

And yesterday The Empty Can band performed their anthem I Vow to Thee, Black Country as part of the Black Country Day celebrations.

The event also hosted the BBC's World War One At Home tour, with railway expert Pete Waterman among the guest hosts.

The show also featured a range of stalls and the Harry Jones Fun Fair with new £500,000 ride The Skyflyer sending people spinning around at 100ft in the air.

Prices for the show have risen slightly this year to £3 for adults and £2 for children. But Jenni Phelps, who was there with her daughters Ellexus, 4, and Roxi, 2, said the charges ensured everyone who attended 'really wanted to be there'.

She said: "We come every year - the kids love the fair and we come because we know we'll have a good time.

"Now that you have to pay, you don't get any trouble."

And Gina Chiurlea, a 33-year-old student nurse from Bushbury, had taken along her sons Luca, 2, Noah, 3, and daughter Shannon, 13.

She said: "We have been here for the last couple of years and we love it. The children like all the motorbikes and monster trucks. There's lots here for the family to do."

And Steven Snee, of Sedgley, who was there with his family and friends, said it was a 'great event for Wolverhampton'.

He said: "There's market stalls and things like monster trucks so we keep coming back."

Wolverhampton City Council leisure chief Councillor Elias Mattu said he believed the attendance was 'much higher' than last year's 22,000.

He added: "This has been a fantastic event and a real success story. It was not just a Black Country event as I met people from Stafford, Birmingham and even Manchester.

"It is the biggest event we have held to date and next year we want it to be even bigger."