AN EVENT to celebrate National Playday proved to be a great success in Ross-on-Wye last week.

Hosted by Ross Town Council, the Ropewalk was transformed into a games activity area in which families brought their own picnics as they spent the day experiencing the games.

The event featured a number of giant games comprising of Jenga, draughts, noughts and crosses, Connect Four, croquet and a buzz wire along with other footballing and badminton themed activities. Families were also entertained with a traditional Punch and Judy show and took part in trying to master a variety of circus skills.

Jane Gardiner, the council’s event organiser said that the amount of people participating in the games was amazing and was probably due to the good weather.

She added: “National Playday provided us with a fantastic opportunity to put on a great community event with lots of entertainment and it’s all free.

“Children explored the range of giant games and were entertained by Punch and Judy Show at various times throughout the day.

“Face painting is still very popular, with queues of children waiting to be transformed over the duration of the playday.

“People have already given us their feedback on the event by telling us that it was a good idea welcomed the opportunity for children to experience these games and activities with others.

“To see children smiling and their parents joining in with them was great to see and this resulted in the Rope Walk being a fun space to be.”

The Playday event was made possible from funding received from Department of Work and Pensions through Talk Community, Herefordshire Council and Ross Town Council.

The council said that it is looking at other opportunities to provide other community events, with the next being the Teddy Bear’s Picnic at the bandstand on Wednesday, August 27 between 11am and 4pm.