PLANS for Black Country Festival celebrations in Halesowen town centre have collapsed after no-one volunteered to take part.

Alan Love, of the Halesowen Ukulele Group, was disappointed at the zero response, despite appeals in the News and on Facebook.

He wanted to entertain shoppers in the town centre on Saturday (July 12) with a variety of bands, poets, drama groups and static displays.

He said: “It’s a shame nothing has come of it, but there are so many other things happening on the same day.”

“All I wanted to do was to put something on in Halesowen because there’s not much going on in the town centre. I just wanted to try to put it on the map a little bit, but it didn’t work out.”

However, he still plans to busk with a few friends from the ukulele group on Saturday to mark the first Black Country Festival ahead of Black Country Day next Monday.

Halesowen Town FC will celebrate the occasion with a beer festival, live bands and singers tomorrow and Saturday at the Grove stadium.

Black Country singer Jonny Cole will perform in the James Grove lounge tomorrow at 8pm, with support from the club’s the Real Neil.

There will be more musical entertainment from 2pm on Saturday with a barbecue and stalls as well as real ales from around the region.

Coffee Cups Community Cafe, run by Halas Homes, in Thornhill Road, will celebrate with a Black Country Fun Day from 10.30am next Tuesday (July 15).

Regional dishes such as faggots and peas, groaty pudding and bread and butter pudding will be on the menu.

Activities will include nordic walking, keep fit and a chance to learn a few professional footballing skills from ex-West Bromwich Albion player Richard Sneekes.