THIS month's family fun day at a popular Worcester park looks set to be bigger and better than ever with up to 1,000 people expected to attend.

The festivities at Gheluvelt Park, off Barbourne Road, will coincide with the first anniversary of the opening of the Pump House Environment Centre, which is in the park and home to the environmental charity, the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust.

Mark Driscoll, the Trust's project manager, said visitor numbers for the past year have been between 7,000 and 8,000.

He said: "It's been a good 12 months. In the last few months visitor numbers have doubled, partly because of school holidays.

"Last month we employed a community liaison officer. Her role is to deal with visitor enquiries and marketing."

He added that people had also come from all around the country to learn about the green technologies used at the centre, such as the under-floor heating system, which is powered by six 100m deep geothermal boreholes.

Attractions at the fun day, which is being organised by the Trust, the Friends of Gheluvelt park and the city council, include a mini float parade, archery, a bouncy castle, circus skills, a mountain bike challenge, a penalty shoot-out competition, arts and crafts, a nature trail, and a kung-fu demonstration.

Allen Barnatt, chairman of the Friends of Gheluvelt Park, said: "It should be a great day. It should be considerable bigger than last year.

"There are a lot more activities going on."

Warwick Neale, the city council's conservation officer said: "This year's fun day at Gheluvelt Park is set to be our best ever. With a steady increase of visitors since we launched it in 2003, we are hoping for record numbers."

The free event on Friday, August 26, will run from 11am till 6pm.