Hundreds of children in their Victorian Sunday best welcomed distinguished guests to a re-enactment of the original opening of a Saltaire park.

More than 600 pupils at Saltaire’s primary schools held the biggest celebration Roberts Park, or Saltaire Park as it was known, has seen since it opened in 1871.

Youngsters at Saltaire Primary, Wycliffe CE and St Walburga’s schools entertained the crowds and greeted a VIP party including members of the Salt family.

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Bradford, Councillor Peter Hill and his wife Gillian, joined in the schools celebration event yesterday.

The children’s event was one of the biggest and most ambitious events of its kind staged at Saltaire Festival.

Denys Salt, a descendent of Sir Titus Salt, played his great grandfather – complete with long beard – at the event.

Organiser Hattie Townsend said: “We wanted everyone to have a really memorable day and celebrate the best of what Saltaire has to offer.

“Preparations have been under way since the start of the year and the children have been working so hard on their entertainment.”

The costumes were provided by West Yorkshire Playhouse and top professional costumier Gill Lightfoot made some of the VIPs’ dresses.

Raahat Rahman, ten, a pupil at Wycliffe Primary, donned Victorian costume for yesterday’s celebrations.

He said: “Everyone has been dressed up and it has been really fun.”

Visitors to the show had the opportunity to admire the completed £4.5 million refurbishment of one of Saltaire’s treasures.

Roberts Park is back to the splendour of its Victorian heyday after a massive restoration project, funded by a £3.2 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and cash from Bradford Council.

The day was particularly special for one of the VIP guests – Sharon Ashton, who played Miss Amelia Salt. The eldest daughter of Sir Titus Salt performed the formal opening ceremony in 1871.

Sharon, the chairman of the Friends of Roberts Park, said: “It’s wonderful to see the park with so many people in it.

“I’d been trying to visualise the original opening – I’d read about it, but it was difficult to imagine what it would have been like.

“Dressing in Victorian costume like this gives you a sense of connection.”