BLACK Country Day is set to be celebrated this week, with people across the region invited to celebrate all things bostin' about the place they call home.

The annual event will be marked on Tuesday, July 14 and people are being encouraged to celebrate in a safe way, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

A host of events were set to the place to mark the Black Country Festival, including Halesowen Carnival, Stourbridge Carnival and the Musicom Festival at Himley Hall, before they were cancelled due to the crisis.

Instead, Black Country residents are being invited to put up flags, share photos and reasons why they are proud to live in the Black Country on social media using the hashtag #BCfestivalonline.

Councillor David Stanley, the Mayor of Dudley, said: "These are very strange times where normal life is very restricted while we all work together to keep the borough safe.

"But as Dudley is the historic capital of the Black Country, it is still really important that we mark such an important event as the Black Country Festival.

"We may not be able to hold the type of celebrations and events that we normally would, but there are still plenty of ways that people can show safely their pride at who they are and where they are from.

"Get your flags up and share your photos on social media about why the Black Country is special to you, using the hashtag. I look forward to seeing them all."

The Mayor of Dudley is also asking people to get creative and produce a picture or photograph that best captures the spirit of the Black Country.

The winning entry will be framed and will hang in pride of place in the Mayor’s parlour later this year.

To enter, post the picture on social media with the hashtag or email capa.events@dudley.gov.uk.

Meanwhile, the team at Black Country T-Shirts have marked the occasion by designing Black Country themed face masks, featuring the Black Country flag and sayings (pictured above).

The popular shop, based on Castle Street in Dudley, has also launched new ranges for each town in the Black Country, drawing on the area's culture and humour.

Stephen Pitts, owner of Black Country T-Shirts said: “Since wearing a mask became mandatory on public transport and the potential for that to be extended to other public places, we were thinking of how these new face coverings can make us feel alienated from each other, obscuring our expressions and importantly smiles.

"It's been a surprising reminder , seeing each other in masks, how much of our communication is non-verbal. So our idea, was to see how we can turn that on it’s head & use the masks to bring people together with our Black Country humour."

Black Country Day takes place this Tuesday July 14 and it is hoped the usual Black Country Festival events can return in 2021.