TEDDY bears' picnics, a film screening, family fun days and rocket making workshops were some of the fun-filled activities held across the Bradford district yesterday.

City Park turned into an outdoor cinema for Bradford UNESCO City of Film's opening Film Fun Wednesday event.

Paddington, starring Hugh Bonneville, was the first movie to be shown on the Big Screen and attracted a crowd of hundreds of children and their parents.

The al fresco film-goers also took the chance to enjoy a picnic while the film was being shown.

This year, the group working alongside Bradford Council have a host of free fun family activities including a teddy bears' picnic.

A different family film will be screened every Wednesday until August 26, from 11am, including The Lego Movie, Penguins of Madagascar, The Nut Job and Disney comedy adventure Tangled. All of the free films will be subtitled.

Julia Buck, her son Caden, 6, and daughter Kera, 9, travelled from Bailiff Bridge, near Brighouse, to watch Paddington.

Mrs Buck said: "It's a great event.

"Both of my children have already seen Paddington but said they wanted to come and see it again.

"It doesn't really matter that the film is being shown outdoors, hopefully the weather will stay as sunny.

"We just thought we would come and see it as it was a free event too."

Staff from Arriva Yorkshire, who sponsored the screening, were joined by Paddington Bear himself as they promoted their new bus app at the event.

David Wilson, director of Bradford UNESCO City of Film, said: "It is a really good coming together of Bradford families to watch great films.

"It is all about the community engagement.

"It is great to see so many young people here, who can do other things while the film is on like play in the fountains in the Mirror Pool."

Meanwhile, children and their parents had fun in the sun with a teddy bears' picnic.

The event, which attracted 70 children and 45 adults, took place in the grounds of Bolling Hall Library and Museum, Bowling Park Road, West Bowling, yesterday.

The picnic also included a balloonist, bear treasure hunt, arts and crafts, face painting and Bookstart Bear also made an appearance.

Picnics are held at a host of libraries across the district during the summer.

Dara Muranka, event organiser and Bolling Hall Library's customer assistant, said: "It was a lovely event.

"We were also able to get a few more people to join the library too.

"Everybody enjoyed it. The picnic is something we hold every summer."

Children had an out of this world experience at a rocket making workshop at Bracken Hall, Shipley Glen.

The session, held as part of the site's weekly summer Wild Wednesdays scheme, saw Keighley Astronomical Society members lead the session.

The group made rockets out of paper and card which were then fired into the air in the grounds of Bracken Hall, reaching 30 foot high and a distance of up to 100ft.

John Dallas, chairman of Friends of Bracken Hall and event organiser, said: "There were lots of new faces.

"The children got to make a rocket which they could take away and tell their friends and teachers about."

Another group also took part in a squirrel walk in Shipley Glen woods.

Wild Wednesdays' free drop-in sessions will be held every week until August 26.

The community came together in West Bowling for an event at Newby Primary School, Ryan Street.

Unity Day saw residents take part in activities including bouncy castle, arts and crafts, candy floss making and dance.

A group of teenagers, who are involved in the National Citizens Service programme, helped promote the event including distributing flyers and they were also trained to do face painting for children and run football activities.

The event was run by groups including Manningham Housing, Bradford City and McMillan Adventure Playground Association (MAPA).

Paul Bose, event organiser, said: "It was a way for people to make new friends and break down barriers.

"It's buzzing. We had people from all ages coming along. There was something for everybody here.

"It is the first time we have held Unity Day and hopefully it will become an annual thing."