A Birmingham suburb devastated by last month's tornado showed it is getting back on its feet as local children attended a sports camp yesterday.
Professional coaches taught volleyball, football, athletics, basketball, cricket, golf and other sports to youngsters in the sunshine in Balsall Heath Park.
Workers have been removing tiny pieces of glass and sharp roof tiles which were scattered over the park after the devastating tornado which struck south Birmingham.
Yesterday's event took place just yards from the worst hit areas, Ladypool Road and Birchwood Road, where more than a dozen houses had their roofs ripped off.
Repair work is continuing in the Kings Heath, Moseley and Sparkbrook areas.
Local trader Zaman Khan said: "The tornado was a terrifying experience for everyone caught up in it and it has affected a lot of people's lives.
"Shops and restaurants on the road were only just made secure earlier this week after assessments and people are still waiting to hear how much the damage will cost.
"Children in the area were especially scared by what happened but very brave also and this party is to cheer them up a bit.
"The effects of the tornado can still be seen around here but we are trying to get back to our normal lives."
Christine Gardener, aged 51, a school support assistant whose house in nearby Alder Road, Balsall Heath, was destroyed in the tornado, has been told it could be up to eight months before she can go home.
She said: "We had lived there for 26 years and it's devastating to see the state it's now in. We have been staying in a housing association property since it struck.
"We haven't really been told much about what is going on and there are a lot of people in the same situation as me.
"My husband Raymon was made redundant weeks before it happened so it's a double whammy for us."
