ALL the fun of a summer's fair came to a revitalised housing estate yesterday as hundreds of local people enjoyed a carnival atmosphere in the sunshine.

The summer fun day at Hodge House Community Centre, Nelson, was organised by the residents' association as part of a scheme to boost community spirit and improve the area.

Stalls, games and other amusements were set out on the field behind the centre. There were also rides, a coconut shy, raffles, races, displays of line dancing and ju-jitsu.

The fun day was organised by the residents' association and proved to be a big success

It followed a week-long clean-up of the estate by local children, organised by estate support worker Graeme Scott.

A competition among local youngsters picked the fun day's "royal family", with 11-year-olds Scott Fagan and Laura McDonald as King and Queen, Neqlam Hussain, 9, the princess and prince, five-year-old Rainford Bowker.

One of the organisers, Thomas Caddis, said: "The aim was to help raise funds towards our target of £15,000. If we can get that, the council will match it and we will be able to get a children's play area on the field at the centre and get the youngsters off the streets."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.