The Black Country flag is flying proudly above the streets from Dudley Castle marking the start of the month long Black Country Festival.

Miss Black Country hoisted the flag above Dudley Castle this morning, marking the start of the Black Country Festival, The celebrations run throughout July and includes the official Black Country Day on July 14th. Abigail Cutler, Miss Black Country, said:

“It was a real honour to be part of starting such a huge event and be able to raise the flag as a symbol of pride in the Black Country.

“There are lots of activities in towns right across the borough and the wider Black Country and I urge people to come out and celebrate everything that is fantastic about this area.”

Councillor Pete Lowe, leader of the council, added:

“This is a great opportunity for everyone to celebrate where they live and work. The Black Country is steeped in history and has an ambitious future and the flag flying is a reminder to us all about everything that is great about this area.

“As a community council we’d love to see people out celebrating throughout the month.”

There are events across the borough as part of the Black Country Festival, with proceedings getting underway with the Mayor of Dudley’s annual charity cricket match at Stourbridge Cricket Club tonight (July 1), from 6pm. Spectators will be able to see teams of councillors, Dudley Council officers and Black Country Festival organisers go head to head to raise money for the Mayor’s charities.

Sedgley Carnival will be at Queen Victoria School, Bilston Street, on July 2, from 11am-5pm. On the same day people will be heading to Halesowen for the town’s carnival from noon-6pm. On July 3 Halesowen will also be hosting the Black Country Road Run where people will be taking part in either 10k or 5k runs, and Black Country Radio will be covering the event live.

Stourbridge Carnival also takes place on July 3 in the town from 10am-6pm and includes a market, street entertainment and much more. Coventry Steet will play host to the Black Country Festival with the Black Country Radio stage featuring unsigned local artists and a full outside broadcast by the station.

The festival will close with the Dudley Beer Festival, a three day celebration of real ale at Brierley Hill Civic Hall from July 29-31.

More information on events is available at black-country-festival.co.uk or by visiting Black Country Radio's local events page.