FAMILIES had a treat getting stuck in at the fun day held in Hylands Park on Saturday.

It was the second Family Fun Day to be organised by Hylands Park Action Group – the friends group of the Hornchurch park – and helped raise cash to put towards the maintenance of the Green Flag site, which can be reached from Osborne Road, Hyland Way or Globe Road.

There were inflatables, rides, sideshows, free tennis, refreshments and other activities including a climbing wall to keep visitors busy – and even the rain managed to stay away.

Four popular characters who made an ass of themselves were Patrick, Oliver, Charlie and Cedric. The donkey quartet from Riffham Donkeys went down a storm taking youngsters for rides round the park throughout the day.

Taylor Richards, six, and James Brooks , four, enjoyed a trek with Patrick and Oliver the same four-legged mammals our Romford MP Andrew Rosindell also stopped by to meet.

Jake Dunn, two-and-a-half, from Rise Park, was another fan of the donkeys. He also went on a fire engine ride and the bouncy castle. His mum Claire Dunn, 32, said: “He had a really good time. It was great because things weren’t too big for him.”

Sarah Hastings, 14, who is team leader for Hylands Tennis Club, helped her mum Joanne and several others on the homemade cakes stall.

The mother and daughter, of Lyndhurst Drive, collected �50 for small cupcake sales.

The overall total raised from the event is not yet known.