MARY Stevens Park’s new look will be officially unveiled next week after a £3.1 million restoration.

Improvements to the Norton park will be revealed on Friday, June 10, with a special event that would be fit for a queen.

Recreating the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s 1957 visit, The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Mohammed Hanif, will take a drive through the park in a vintage car, before unveiling the work with a celebratory ribbon and cake cutting ceremony at the bandstand.

Work started on the park’s redevelopment back in January 2015 after campaigners worked up plans for more than a decade to give the much-loved area a major makeover.

The plans were finally able to get off the ground after a grant of £2.6million was awarded towards it by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund under the Parks for People programme.

During the past 18 months, major restoration work has been undertaken to a number of areas in the park, including the historic Grade II listed gates, the war memorial, the bandstand and heath pool, while a new café and toilet facilities were also built.

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “I’m delighted that the park is to be fully open again in time for people to enjoy during the summer.

“The park is looking absolutely fantastic and I hope people will enjoy the new facilities.

“I would like to thank all the park users for being so patient while the improvement work was being undertaken.”

The unveiling marks the start of a weekend of royal themed events at the park, with a Royal Market and Food Fair running between 2pm on Friday (June 10) until 5pm Sunday (June 12), featuring live music and market stalls.

A free-to-enter dog show will take place on Saturday (June 11) from 1pm, with categories including waggiest tail, best biscuit catcher, best child handler and fancy dress. Participants can register in the park on the day from noon.