THOUSANDS of people turned out in Victoria Park on Tuesday to bask in the sunshine and join in Jubilee festivities at Malvern Town Council's Gala Day.

Stalls such as crockery smashing and events like archery, gymnastics, belly dancing, bands and five-a-side football kept the crowds entertained all day.

An evening programme sponsored by the Malvern Fringe got underway at around 4pm, which included electric and acoustic rock, other live music, acting and clowning.

recycling was a strong theme throughout the day, with a sculpture being constructed from recycled aluminium by two Fringe artists, Steve Maund and Gary Fullagar.

"It's quite difficult, because you're going through bags and using what you find," said Mr Fullagar, a smith from the Cradley area.

Mr Maund, a willow artist based in Bosbury, added that the message the work was trying to get across was the importance of recycling.

It was being created alongside a sculpture of a man entitled "Alistair McCann", made primarily from cans and other bits of recycled aluminium, which had been prepared by pupils at Holme Lacy College.

Further along the stalls was a crown-making workshop, where recycled materials were also being put to good use.

Children were using polythene bags, ping-pong balls and off-cuts from Spring Lane-based firm Pendragon Presentation and Packaging to make gold and purple Jubilee crowns.

Ann Silk, of Malvern Town Council, said that the events would help highlight the need to ensure Malvern people recycle as much as they can. "People are really beginning to realise we can do something with aluminium," she said. "We are going to have all Malvern saving it. We have to!"

Elsewhere, people were enjoying refreshments, live music and stalls such as soft toys, darts and the bouncy castle.

A tug of war, belly dancing, musical chairs, gymnastic display and a performance from the Malvern Lynx marching band all took place in the "main arena", cordoned off at one end of the field.

Archery was also being run on the second football pitch by Malvern Archery Club, which was giving tuition and signing up new members.

On Tuesday, Linda Stone, of Malvern Town Council, said the event was going very well - and the turnout had exceeded expectations.

"We're absolutely astonished so many people are here," she said. "The weather's helped, but there are more than we expected."