About 1,000 children, parents, carers and play workers will converge on Ravenscourt Park next week for the borough's annual Play Day event - one of the UK's biggest single celebrations of national Play Day.

Live music, arts and crafts, story-telling sessions, pony rides and performances by children will be among the attractions at the borough's Play Day 2004 extravaganza from 1.00 - 4.00pm on Wednesday, 4 August.

A balloon launch by the mayor, Cllr Charlie Treloggan, at 2pm will mark the official opening of the event - which is organised by the council's play service - and the launch of the borough's recently formed Play Association. This has been set up to provide support and advice to local play providers, including voluntary and community groups.

Music, dance, rap and DJing performances on the Play Day stage will feature children and young people from the play service's centres, the Music House for Children and after-school and holiday schemes run by Hammersmith & Fulham Action on Disability and the council's youth service.

Other attractions at Play Day include the council's new 18ft climbing wall, face painting, bouncy castles, clowns and balloon modellers, a visit by the fire brigade, a five-a-side football competition on the park's new all-weather pitch, tennis, badminton and volleyball.

Under fives and five to 12-year-olds are all catered for at Play Day and parents can find out how to get help with childcare costs or where their nearest nurseries or play facilities are from the numerous information and advice stands.

Cllr Treloggan said: "Play Day celebrates the importance of play for children's development and helps parents and carers to gain access to valuable information about a wide range of services. Ravenscourt Park is a fabulous venue for one of the biggest and best national Play Day events in the country and our parks staff work hard to maintain it as a safe and clean environment.

"We are delighted to be officially launching the borough's new Play Association, which has already helped dozens of play and youth providers to improve their services."

Now in its 17th year, national Play Day involves more than 100,000 children taking part in hundreds of activities throughout the UK, from big public events to small gatherings. It is co-ordinated by two charities, the Children's Society and the Children's Play Council. This year's theme is Families at Play, encouraging families to play together.

For more details about out-of-school care and activities phone 020 8753 3786 or visit www.lbhf.gov.uk. To contact the borough's Play Association call Caroline Airey on 020 8762 0862.