Thousands turn out for Walsall Town Show

The bank holiday weekend event featured a magic show, martial arts demonstrations, a man made beach, paintballing and a whole host of fairground rides and stalls as the show celebrated one of its best years since its inception.

The undisputed star was the monster trucks, with people watching on in awe as the mammoth vehicles scrambled their way over scrap cars.

The event, which took place both yesterday and on Sunday, stayed dry for the first time in three years with thousands from Walsall and beyond making the most of the bank holiday weather to enjoy the show.

Pat Collins Funfairs, the Walsall-based business that has been going for more than 155 years, organised the event.

Councillor Anthony Harris, the great grandson of Pat Collins and current owner of Pat Collins Funfairs, told the Express & Star: "The weather was fantastic and we had a brilliant response from people. I am really pleased with the support we have got from all over, both in the borough and beyond.

"The event went really well. Next year we want to make a few tweaks to get even more value for money for people. It is still £3 and it has been for six years, now that's not too bad is it? I do not know how much a pint is as I do not drink but I reckon it is close.

"At last the ice cream has made some money as well, it has been raining the last three years for him. It was all good this year, I am very pleased with this one."

Asked about how the spectacular show first come about, councillor Harris added: "Six years ago we celebrated 150 years of Pat Collins with this show then we got bombarded by people asking us to do it again. Six years later here we are, we have been doing it ever since.

"We have had good years and we have had bad years, especially with the rain in the last three years, but it is all good."

The event was officially opened on Sunday afternoon by the mayor of Walsall councillor Marco Longhi, who spent hours at the event alongside his wife and daughter.

He said: "The show had a tremendous mix of traditional fairground attractions where people got thrown about in these modern things that I would not go in if they paid me but people a lot braver than I am loved it. Then there was also some lovely old vehicles that Pat Collins have themselves renovated including trucks that are 60/70/80 years old. They also had a little coal fired steam engine which people could go round the fair in.

"Then in stark contrast to this little steam engine there was the huge monster trucks, with tyres as tall as my daughter, scrambling over scrap cars. The trucks seemed to be the main attraction.

"From the variety of different stalls and rides it was just great to see people coming together from all over Walsall and even from outside the borough.

"Pat Collins is a business but it is a business for the benefit of Walsall because it brings people together. It makes it even better when you know it is a historic Walsall company that has put on such a good event."

As well as coming back next year for its seventh show, councillor Harris also revealed Pat Collins Funfairs was looking to bring more events to Walsall providing they could find a suitable venue.