Shoppers can enjoy a free Halloween family fun day at Dudley market this weekend.

Tudor Markets has organised the event on Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

It includes a free outdoor cinema screen, showing Hotel Transylvania and Hocus pocus from 3pm-9pm, a face painter and more. The popular market will be decorating stalls with bats and cobwebs. James Willis, from Tudor Markets, said:

"Events such as this one are great for the community and the businesses in Dudley town. Halloween is always a fun time to host events like this and we’ve got lots going on to entertain children and families.

"I hope people will come and join us for a day of fun, free entertainment while enjoying the range of food and drinks the market has to offer. The day also includes a best carved pumpkin competition with prizes for the spookiest design, as well as a selfie pod where people can capture pictures of their experiences."

The market has a long history of selling fruit, veg and other weekly shop items from the centre of Dudley from Monday to Saturday, with a car boot sale every Sunday.

Saturday’s Halloween celebration is one of a number of events at the site over the coming months with a medieval market planning for December. Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member with responsibility for town centre markets, added:

"This is a great way to get more people coming into the town centre and supporting local traders. I hope people will take the time to have some fun at one of the most historic markets around."

The market runs from 9am until 5pm and includes face-painting from 3-5pm and the film screening from 3pm-9pm. Other activities run throughout the day.

The new initiative has been partly funded by the ERDF Reopening the High Streets Fund which was awarded to the council to spend on specific activity including Covid-19 signage in the town centres, temporary improvements to social distancing measures and consultations with residents.