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The Friends of Herristone Park are hoping to stage a teddy bear's picnic to help mark the 50 years since the Queen took the throne which is being celebrated nationwide in 2002.

The Friends are planning to hold the picnic in the park on Sunday, May 26. The preparations started this month when the Friends met to discuss ideas for the event but more support is needed to make the picnic a success.

People who asked for their names to be added to the friends' mailing list when they attended the successful Christmas Grotto in December and those who took part in a public meeting on January 10 are now being asked to offer their time and skills.

Proposals for the day include offering each guest a picnic box meal and a drink, providing entertainment and traditional prize games such as egg and spoon and sack races to keep kids occupied.

It is also hoped to give each child a souvenir of the day and offer a prize for the teddy best dressed as a member of the royal family.

The next meeting of the friends group takes place on Thursday, February 7 at 7.15pm at Crumpsall Labour Club and all future meetings will be held on the first Thursday of each month.

Friends secretary Chris Humphreys said: "Our last event attracted more than 250 children and adults. For a small group we achieved a great deal and it was very satisfying to see the park full of people having fun.

"To cater for such numbers in June will require plenty of pairs of hands to take on small tasks in preparation for the event and share the workload on the day with the assistance of experts from Manchester Leisure who are very supportive.

"We now have more than 50 people on our mailing list but still only a handful of residents and park users who regularly attend meetings and are active in the group. We will be able to achieve our goals only with the active help and support of more of our friends."