FAMILIES are being invited to turn out for the grand opening to officially unveil the magnificently restored Victoria Park.

The event, between noon on 4pm on Tuesday , August 19 will see Mayor Councillor Geoff Pearl cut the ribbon following its £4 million transformation.

Renovations began in February 2013 following eight years of campaigning by the Friends of Victoria Park.

The project has been funded by Heritage Lottery fund as well as Ibstock Corey, Corey Environmental Trust for Britain, Mersey Forest, United Utilities and Bliss.

There have been refurbishments to many of the park’s ageing features, including new tennis courts, landscape features, Victorian bandstand, community garden, pond and 1913-style Orangery .

There will be plenty of activities on offer at the park including a climbing wall, crazy golf, and brass band. Visitors can witness the depth of the improvements.

“We encourage everyone to turn up and enjoy this beautiful renovated park and see what facilities are on offer,” said Ann Shacklady-Smith, of the Friends.

“There’ll be lots of people in the park so everyone can enjoy it.

“It means everything to us to see the park now. We are all local people in the Friends and many of us live around it and have childhood memories of playing in the park.

“We had a passion to get it back to its former glory and it plays a really important part in the community as lots of people can’t afford to go to other places. It means everything to see it taking off.”

Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron, St Helens Council's cabinet member for the environment, added: “Victoria Park is a local institution which, over the years, has been enjoyed by countless local people. I know many residents have been looking forward to seeing the restored park restored and taking advantage of the new facilities.”

Thanks to an extra grant from Awards for All, the park is hosting a series of events to make use of the new facilities.

Activities on offer include tennis sessions, including for disabled people, storytelling, tai chi, yoga, meditation and others.

For more information about the events, visit www.friendsofvictoriapark.org.