MANSFIELD’S bus station celebrated its first birthday with a day of activities.

Highlights included performances by the Portland College ipad band and the Mansfield Community Gospel Choir, Wheel of Fortune and Hunt the Bus games and a balloon modeller.

In its first year there were more than 300,000 departures from the station.

Station manager Elliott Mizen said: “We’ve had good feedback from people who have passed through the bus station over the last 12 months – and we’ve also won a couple of design awards along the way.

“We’ve now got everything up and running including the Spa shop, the café and an ice cream stand in summer months, and we even sell coach and bus tickets – there really is an awful lot going on.”

“We are delighted that Mansfield Bus Station has celebrated its first anniversary,” said Coun Kevin Greaves, chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s transport and highway committee.

“It has been a fantastic success and the link between the bus station and the train station has been great and the footfall has been considerable. The new bus station has brought a huge boost to the town.”

Pictured is balloon modeller David Taylor, of Jump for Joy, with Amy Ashley and her children, Lyla-May Lerway and Louie, at the bus station’s party.