FLYING monkeys and 100 dancing Munchkins are just some of the highlights that will help transform City Park into a Wizard of Oz inspired technicolour playground from tomorrow.

During the Echoes of Oz weekend artists from Irregular Arts together with community groups from around the district come together to celebrate Bradford and its citizens.

The fun runs from 1pm to 9pm tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday and organisers are hoping thousands of people will come.

A yellow brick road made of stones, sponges, vinyl and carpet will weave its way through the mirror pool and there will also be a giant Ruby Slipper Slide and Dorothy’s house with its whirlwind windows for people to have a play.

A huge O-shaped screen will show films and staged performances telling the tale of Dorothy's journey while the big screen transmits tales of Bradford citizens' hearts, brains and courage.

Glinda the Good Witch, Professor Marvel and the Wicked Witch of the West will also be there for meet and greets and there are different live and light shows each day at 1.30pm and 7pm featuring professional performers as well as community groups.

VIDEO: Preparations are under way for Echoes of Oz

Jenny Wilson, of Irregular Arts, is the energy behind the project and has brought together a creative team to make Echoes of Oz happen.

Earlier this week work started to put in place hundreds of yellow painted bricks in City Park to form the road, made famous in the Judy Garland film, which will be built into 66 platforms which will partly cross the pool.

Visitors will be invited to follow the road to explore the magical Munchkinland crossing the bricks to be able to reach three fun foam islands, said Keighley-based community artist Shanaz Gulzar,

There will also be a yellow carpet for people to promenade along and yellow vinyl in a swirling shape in the pool.

Ms Gulzar said: "Even biblical rains didn't hold us up. Everything's gone smoothly. We had lots of work to do and now we just want people to come and have a play. We can't wait for it to get started."

Sharon Watson, Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre from Leeds, has also been busy choreographing more than 300 local people into dance routines and musician Inder Goldfinger has worked up a magical musical mix.

Each day of the weekend will tell a different part of Dorothy’s story, with two different live and light performances daily at 1.30pm and 7pm, inviting the audience to come dressed up and join in.