Thousands of young people from across the region have taken part in the Black Country School Games.

Around 2,000 students participated in the sports festival on Thursday, June 27 at the University of Wolverhampton's Walsall Campus.

130 schools took part in a range of sports activities and taster trails with new sports such as kabbadi and baseball.

The event was organised by Active Black Country, Walsall Council's Healthy Spaces team, and School Games organisers.

The games aimed to encourage students to get active and enjoy various sports.

Dudley emerged as the overall winner, receiving the Joel Richards Spirit of the Games trophy.

Billy Downie, chair of the School Games organising committee, said that the Games' mix of sports and activities "gave young people who may not have fallen in love with sport an opportunity to do that.

“It’s a flagship event for the Games values. But it’s only the tip of the iceberg of the work that goes on with tens of thousands of pupils throughout the year.

"Amazing schools, incredible teachers and support staff are putting on opportunities for young people of all abilities, ethnicity and religion across the region, giving them a sense of belonging and purpose."

Young people played a key role in planning and delivering the games.

The event included performances during both the opening and closing ceremonies by Kickstarts Dance, and featured Perry, the 2022 Commonwealth Games mascot.

Four-time British judo champion Lucy Renshall is an advocate of the games, having given a demonstration of some moves in efforts to inspire youngsters to take up the sport.

Renshall, who lives in Walsall, said: "I think it’s amazing.

"It’s a goal of mine to give back to the sport whilst I am still competing.

"I think it’s really good for the kids to see athletes that are competing at the highest levels still doing this."